Communiqué Posté le 10:02 13-04-2023, modifié le 10:02 13-04-2023 par Tournons la Page
Today, 19 Ugandan civil society organizations unite to ask the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to renew the mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the country.
Download the letter sent to embassies, signed by 48 organizations
The signatories of this letter include, among others, Youth for Green Communities (YFC), Community Transformation Foundation Network (COTFONE) and Fridays for Future Uganda (FFF).
Last February, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uganda notified the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) country office that its mandate would not be renewed.
The signatory organizations express their deep concerns about this announcement, as the OHCHR had achieved tremendous milestones in promoting and protecting Ugandans from human rights violations.
While the Government of Uganda justifies its decision on the basis of the country’s own sufficient capacity to monitor rights compliance, the signatories are concerned that the closure of the UN Office will worsen human rights violations in the country.
The Ugandan Human Rights Commission noted in its 2021 annual report to Parliament that arbitrary arrests, detention and torture constitute the most recurrent types of human rights violations in the country.
The situation of human rights defenders working on the negative impacts of oil extraction projects in Uganda has been repeatedly denounced by the OHCHR itself and by the United Nations Special Procedures.
“The shutdown of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Uganda has hindered the efforts to enhance coordination mechanisms for grassroots environmental and human rights organizations and defenders. The threats against human rights defenders have grown but, despite these concerns, there has been a limited response to the issues at hand.”, recounts Kayinga Muddu Yisito, the Coordinator of the Community Transformation Foundation Network (COTFONE).
“The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Uganda has since its creation laid down baby steps for the respect of human rights in all spheres of political, economic, social, and cultural life. Unless the mandate is renewed and extended, it will be a setback in ensuring all Ugandans, especially those in oil and other local communities, enjoy equal protection of the law”, said Brighton Aryampa, Chief Executive Officer, Youth for Green Communities (YGC).
The signatory organizations therefore request the Ugandan Foreign Affairs Ministry to renew the mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) at its fullest extent.
Uganda ends mandate of UN Human Rights Office
Ugandan Human Rights Commission 2021 Annual Report to Parliament
United Nations Special Procedures
World Report 2022: Uganda | Human Rights Watch
For interviews and additional information contact:
Kayinga Muddu Yisito
ymkayinga.cotfone@gmail.com
+256 782 920 995
Brighton Aryampa
baryampa@ygcug.org
+256 784 679 759
Full list of signatories:
- Youth for Green Communities, Kampala, Uganda
- Community Transformation Foundation Network (COTFONE), Greater Masaka, Uganda
- Karamoja Development Forum
- The Insight Post Uganda
- Uganda Eyenkya Development Project Group
- Empowered At Dusk Women's Association
- Bunyoro Choice Uganda Masindi (BCY Masindi)
- Teso Region Federation of Communities (TERFECO)
- Centre for Young Generation Empowerment
- Buwenge Vocational Institute
- Youth Go Green
- Citizens' concern Africa
- KAFLA Communications
- Youth Concern on Environment and Development
- Tree Talk Plus
- Environment Governance Institute
- Fridays for future Uganda
- Center for environmental research and Agriculture innovations (CERAI)
- Tournons La Page-Uganda / Let’s Turn The Page-Uganda (TLP Uganda)
Download the letter sent to embassies, signed by 48 organizations
Photo : Kenneth Kazibwe/Nile Pos
