Chief Justice defends COVID-19 guidelines

CHIEF JUSTICE|HEALTH|EDUCATION

KAMPALA - Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has defended the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health to mitigate the spread of the deadly global COVID-19 pandemic. 

Owiny-Dollo argues that the freedom to enjoy life overrides other fundamental human rights and freedoms. 

"It does not matter whether the guidelines are issued by one person in form of a decree or not, the most fundamental right is to enjoy life," Owiny-Dollo said. 

Owiny-Dollo defended the guidelines while giving a keynote address at the launch of Makerere University's school of law special journal on freedom of expression, assembly and access to information during COVID-19 at Mestil hotel Tuesday (December 8, 2020)

Owiny-Dollo has also implored the public to stop politicising COVID-19 saying it is real and it does not know someone's political affiliation or status. 

Makerere University principal school of law, Professor Fredrick Jjuuko bemoaned what he described as militarisation of the enforcement of the COVID-19 guidelines which he said has led to loss of life by some Ugandans. 

"President Museveni did well to educate Ugandans about COVID-19 but the problem was militarisation of the fight against it.  We took a coercive aspect that led to death of some people which is very unfortunate," Jjuuko noted. 

Jjuuko recommends more civic education about COVID-19 instead of using coercive force against citizens. 

Professor John Jean Barya said that it was wrong for the country to organise the general elections in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"These elections should not have taken place because there's no way candidates are going to campaign while observing the standard operating procedures.  I don't think the holding of elections is going to be useful to society and I believe it is illogical for us to have the elections," Barya noted. 

Barya however advised the opposition not to boycott the elections saying they will lose the political scene. 

Catherine Anite, the executive director of freedom of expression hub said although freedom of speech and expression is not absolute, it should be restrained by law. 

"We have restrictive law intended by states not only in Uganda but what is the standard of the law? They must be precise and not ambiguous but what we see is that most of these laws are ambiguous making their implementation difficult," Anite noted. 

Anite also advised government to regulate hate speech instead of focusing on fake news. 

Dr Zahara Nampewo, the director of human rights and peace centre at Makerere University School of law said the journal gives special attention to freedom of expression, assembly and access to information during the COVID-19 period. 

Makerere University's vice chancellor in charge of academics Dr Umar Kakumba said the journal feeds into the University's strategic plan of research and innovation.