The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A meeting convened by Speaker Anita Among with officials of the Uganda Human Rights Commission – UHRC, and the Leader of Opposition in Parliament – LOP to discuss human rights abuses and the fate of the alleged 18 missing opposition supporters has flopped.
On Tuesday last week, Among called for the meeting following four fresh demands by the Opposition tasking the Government to unconditionally release all political prisoners and institute a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the disappearance of 18 supporters who have been declared non-existent by the UHRC.
But the meeting could not proceed on Monday after the UHRC Chairperson, Mariam Wangadya, appeared at the Speaker’s Boardroom with only two of her Commissioners.
There were also no representatives from the Police and Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Mathias Mpuuga, the LOP, who appeared with Solomon Silwany, a Parliamentary Commissioner and Kimanya-Kabonera Member of Parliament, Dr. Abed Bwanika said the meeting failed to take off after Wangadya said that the other commissioners were upcountry engaged in work.
Among described the meeting as a preparation for another one scheduled later this month, which will involve all commissioners from UHRC, the Police leadership, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to address concerns about missing persons and other human rights-related issues.
In its annual report released on October 11, 2023, the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), revealed that the Commission has resolved to close 18 files of the allegedly missing National Unity Platform – NUP party supporters after failing to trace them.
In a recent statement to respond to alleged missing persons, the State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi cited inconsistencies in the numbers and testimonies in the various claims of reported disappeared persons.
According to Muhoozi, the next of kin of the missing persons have declined to give statements to police, making it difficult for the government to conclude investigations.
Mpuuga also welcomed the sanctions by the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken against Johnson Byabshaija, the Commissioner General of Uganda Prisons Service for allegedly committing human rights abuses against opposition leaders and other groups including homosexuals.
In their fresh demands, the Opposition demanded that Parliament establishes a Select Committee to investigate alleged cases of rape, and defilement as well as the transfer of all persons being subjected to unlawful trials before the Court Martial.
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