Human rights defenders law in the offing

Jovia Kamateeka, the chairperson Parliament's committee on human rights

The Parliamentary committee on Human rights and members of the human rights movement in Uganda are in the process of introducing to parliament a private members' Bill on protection of rights for human rights defenders.

According to the human rights activists in the country, Uganda lacks a legal regime to protect proponents and defenders of human rights issues.

Through the parliamentary committee on human rights, the activists intend to table before parliament, the Bill to protect their rights, for legislation.

"There is no existing legislation that protects us as human rights defenders. We work in an environment where we feel we are not protected enough," Robert Kirenga, the executive director National coalition of Human defenders Uganda said.

He made the remarks, during celebrations to mark the international human rights day, which is commemorated every December 10th annually.

According to Kirenga, the Bill that is currently on consultative level with different stake holders such as human rights organizations, MPs, will be introduced to parliament early next year.

"We need a law that will protect human rights defenders; our people don't know the rights of human rights defenders. They fear to speak out because they don't know what will happen to them. It is only through such legislation that protection of these people can be assured," Roselyn Karugonjo, a human rights specialist said. 

Jovia Kamateeka, the chairperson Parliament's committee on human rights, advised the human rights defenders body, to petition her committee to enable the MPs push for the Bill.

She noted that the law would help close the gaps that human rights defenders face while going about their work. 

The human rights defenders also decried the recent break-ins into offices of human rights activists, which they suspect to be linked to their attack on perpetrators of human rights violations.

They demanded the Uganda Police fast tracks investigations into human rights office break-ins and bring the culprits to book.

"Police has already indicated to us that the report will be ready soon, it is our prayer that it comes through as promised next year," Kirenga said. 

However   Dr. Livingstone Ssewanyana, the executive director Foundation for human rights initiative (FHRI) attacked human rights organizations in Uganda saying they were not doing enough to protect and fight for the rights of Ugandans.

According to Ssewanyana, there is no cause for celebration of humanitarian day in Uganda, when people's rights are being violated.

"What does this day mean to an ordinary man whose rights are being violated. Every day I get a letter from of people complaining about the abuse of their rights. I challenge you to do more, when will someone call on radio and say if it wasn't for a particular human rights organization, I would be here today, we need to do more," Ssewanyana said.

In 1999, the United Nations adopted the declaration on human rights defenders, which recorganized the essential role of human rights defenders, the legitimacy of their work and the importance of being able to conduct activities safely and without fear of reprisal.

Meddie Mulumba, the acting chairperson Uganda Human rights commission, expressed concern about the abuse of human rights defenders such as office break-ins adding that the commission would soon issue out a name and shame list for Ugandans that top the list of human rights violators in the country.