UN calls for appointment of UHRC chairperson

The United Nations Human Rights Country Representative, Robert Ayeda Kotchani, has urged government to appoint the chairman of Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) as part of the necessary efforts for safeguarding and promoting human rights.

Arguing that general elections come with many human rights challenges, Kotchani emphasised the need for the strengthening of UHRC.

"For more than a year, UHRC doesn't have a chairperson. There is need for the substantive chair to the commission to be appointed," Kotchani stated.

The position became vacant when the former chairperson, Med Kasozi Kaggwa, died after collapsing on his way to work in November 2019.

Kotchani made the remarks during a two-day training for journalists on human rights which was organised by the United Nations Human Rights at Protea Hotel in Entebbe from Tuesday (September 04, 2020) to Wednesday (September 05, 2020). 

Expressing concern that there is so much violation of human rights in Uganda some of which are orchestrated by state agents, Kotchani implored Uganda government to undertake deliberate efforts to end the violations.

"I agree there is a lot of impunity in this country. As the UN and other development partners, we shall undertake several interventions on the acts of violating the rights of citizens in Uganda," Kotchani stated.

Reports of UHRC and other human rights bodies have been over the years implicating state institutions like the army, police, RDCs, and Uganda Commissions Commission as some of the leading violators of the rights of Ugandans.

The UN diplomat asked journalists and other Ugandans to report to the human rights violations for them to take the necessary action.

The position became vacant when the former chairperson, Med Kasozi Kaggwa, died after collapsing on his way to work in November 2019.