The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | On the eve of his landmark sentencing, lawyers for former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba Monday gave notice that they will appeal his war crimes conviction and press for a mistrial. Just hours before the once feared militia leader was due back in the …
Read More »`The constitution shouldn’t be something we have, it should be something we are’
Francis Gimara is the newly elected President of Uganda Law Society (ULS). He spoke to The Independent’s Agnes E Nantaba about the rule of law and constitutionalism in Uganda and about his vision for ULS under his leadership. As the newly elected president of Uganda Law Society, what are your …
Read More »Habre, African leaders and justice
Dakar, Senegal | AFP | A special court in Senegal sentenced former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre to life in jail Monday for war crimes and crimes against humanity, an unprecedented conviction seen as a warning to repressive rulers worldwide. The verdict brings long-awaited closure for relatives of the up to …
Read More »Chad ex-dictator Habre sentenced to life in prison
Dakar, Senegal | AFP | Chad ex-dictator Hissene Habre has been found guilty of crimes against humanity, war crimes. Habre was sentenced to life in prison. Earlier, court stated that he was guilty of raping a woman, the first conviction in several charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The …
Read More »The Independent’s Flavia Nassaka wins human rights award
The Independent’s Flavia Nassaka has scooped the Human Rights Award for 2016 for her two stories that highlighted Police’s abuse in 2015. The award administered by the Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda recognizes journalists whose stories highlight journalist and media rights issues in the country. Nassaka was awarded a plaque …
Read More »US Human Rights official tips youth on 2016 polls
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Tom Malinowski has urged youth in Uganda to vote in the 2016 elections a way of playing a constructive role in the country’s politics and emphasizing the influence they hold in shaping the future. “It is clear that this …
Read More »The age of human rights imperialism
By Andrew Mwenda On May 20, the American Congress held a hearing on the “deteriorating human rights situation in Rwanda”. The timing was surprising because there have hardly been incidents of human rights abuse in Rwanda for a while. Instead the hearing took place against the backdrop of widespread demonstrations …
Read More »International Human Rights Day Op-Ed
Women’s Rights Are Human Rights Deputy Chief of Mission Patricia Mahoney December 10, 2014 Today we celebrate International Human Rights Day, marking the end of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence that began on November 25 with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. While …
Read More »Uganda Human Rights Commission raps Police in new report.
By Ian Katusiime Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) released its annual report on April 10 at Imperial Royale Hotel where it sharply criticised the Police for its brutality and crack down on demonstrations and illegal detention of suspects beyond the stipulated 48 hours. Complaints on the right to personal liberty …
Read More »Karamoja remains most vulnerable to human rights abuse in Uganda—report
By Ronald Musoke Karamoja remains Uganda’s most vulnerable sub-region when it comes to human rights abuses by government agencies, a new report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Uganda says. The report released on Feb. 20 in Kampala says although there has …
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