UHRC boss calls for respect of human rights ahead of elections

Oct 23, 2019

According to Kaggwa, observing human rights by both the citizens and the authority helps create a conducive environment for free and fair elections.

HUMAN RIGHTS              ELECTIONS

The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) chairman, Med Kaggwa has called upon Ugandans to promote and observe human rights if they are to have a free fair election in 2021.

According to Kaggwa, observing human rights by both the citizens and the authority helps create a conducive environment for free and fair elections.

"For an election to be free and fair they need to be held in an environment free of intimidation, coercion or discrimination of voters, candidates and political parties. That is what all Ugandans should be aiming at" Kaggwa said.

He said this during the opening ceremony of a three-day refresher training for focal persons at Lake Heights Hotel Entebbe.

The trainees were from  various organization that are implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on the Human Rights-Based Approach to Data

"Elections have the potential to realization of human rights and mismanaged elections can lead to gross violation of human rights. So these are important for democracy," Kaggwa said.

Kaggwa said certain civil liberties, such as the freedoms of speech, association, and assembly are required at all times and more so during elections.

"This is not about the police or army, but everybody. We need to approach this together because human rights touch everyone. No one should be intimidated, harassed, threatened or physically attacked by anyone because of elections," Kaggwa said.

Ahead of the 2016 elections, African Freedom of Exchange (AFEX), reported that there was a deteriorating human rights situation in Uganda ahead of the polls.

"We are alert during this period of elections because during our annual reports we get a lot of human rights abuses and complaints, so we are more concerned as we head to this period," Kaggwa said.

He said, infringes on freedom of association, freedom of assembly and movement are the most complaints that come up during elections.

Kaggwa urged the police and other authorities to ensure that any restrictions on public gatherings are strictly necessary for protecting public order in order not to infringe on people's rights.

According to Human Rights Watch, three elements should be respected; protection of free speech and assembly; rules that are neither discriminatory nor arbitrary in excluding potential voter or candidates; and the rule of law accompanied by a judiciary that is able to deal fairly and promptly with disputes concerning elections.

The focal persons who attended the meeting were drawn from Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), National Planning Authority (NPA) Office of the Prime --Minister (OPM) and the UHRC.

Emmanuel Bryma Momoh an international human rights expert from Sierra Leone who represented the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) country representative said there is need to apply human rights approach to development and implementation of national policies and programmes.

"We need to always keep in mind that what we are talking about here are not mere statistics and numbers but people with lives aspirations and hopes for them and their families," Momoh said.

He revealed that observing human rights is key to attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Momoh said UN OHCHR is available to assist states in integrating human rights in sustainable development.

"We must utilize a human rights-based approach to our development planning and programming to ensure that everyone is counted and their rights and needs accounted for," Momoh said.

He explained that data on human rights is key for the implementation of the vision of "Leaving No One Behind"

"It should be of interest to all policymakers, statisticians and data specialist be it in government or civil organisation and human rights advocates to ensure respect, protection and fulfillment of human rights in measurement and implementation of the 2030 Agenda," Momoh said.

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