UGA 001 /
1219 / OBS 105
Break-in
/ Assault
Uganda
December 13, 2019
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint
partnership of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests
your urgent intervention in the following situation in Uganda.
Description
of the situation:
The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources
about the break-in of the offices of The Robust Initiative for Promoting Human
Rights (TRIUMPH Uganda). TRIUMPH Uganda is an organisation focused on
protecting and advocating for the human rights of marginalised members of the
community, including LGBTI persons.
According to the information received, in the night of
December 10, 2019, unknown persons broke into TRIUMPH Uganda offices in Mbale.
The perpetrators drugged the security dog, shut down electricity through the
main supply and blocked rear entrance door and other internal access doors. The
persons accessed the Programme Officer and Executive Director’s offices,
opening the file cabinets, and took with them, among other items, two computers
and the entire security surveillance and storage system.
In the morning of December 11, 2019, a neighbour who
saw that the office had been broken-in called TRIUMPH Uganda’s Executive
Director, Mr. Shibolo Awali, who was in an official meeting in Kampala.
Mr. Shibolo Awali informed the organisation staff, who immediately called IUIU
police station. Police officers immediately deployed to the office premises and
stayed until December 12, 2019. The case was registered under reference number
07/11/12/2019. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, investigations
are still ongoing on this break-in.
In the morning of December 10, 2019, Mr. Shibolo Awali
delivered a speech on the situation of LGBTI persons’ rights before European
Union representatives in Mbale.
The Observatory
recalls that this is not the first time TRIUMPH Uganda offices are broken into.
On June 8, 2019, the same office was broken into but internal access had been
unsuccessful and damage was only done to the organisation motor vehicle and a
battery plugged off. The case was registered at IUIU police station under
reference number 05/08/06/2019. The police still have to send its report on
this break-in.
The Observatory expresses its deepest concern about
the break-in of TRIUMPH Uganda office premises, which seems to be aimed at
intimidating its members and prevent their legitimate human rights activities.
The Observatory urges the authorities of Uganda to ensure that the physical
and psychological integrity of TRIUMPH Uganda members is guaranteed and to
carry-out an immediate, thorough, transparent investigation into the
above-mentioned facts.
Actions
requested:
Please write to the authorities of Uganda asking them
to:
i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity
of TRIUMPH Uganda members and related personnel, as well as all human rights
defenders in Uganda;
ii.
Carry-out an immediate, thorough, transparent investigation into the
above-mentioned break-ins and thefts in order to identify all those
responsible, bring them before an independent tribunal, and apply them the
sanctions provided by the law;
iii.
Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders and organisations in
Uganda are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without
fear of reprisals;
iv. Conform
with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by
the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially its
Articles 1, 5 and 12.2;
v. Ensure in
all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in
accordance with international human rights standards and international
instruments ratified by Uganda.
Addresses:
• President Kaguta Yoweri Museveni, President of the
Republic of Uganda, Fax: +256 (0) 414 436 102 / + 256 41 4235459 / +256 41
4344012. E-mail: museveni@starcom.co.ug / aak@statehouse.go.ug
• General Jeje Odongo, Minister of Internal Affairs, Fax: +256 414343088
Mr. Obiga Kania, State Minister for Internal Affairs, Fax: + 256
414343088• Mr. William Byaruhanga, Attorney General, and Hon. Kahinda
Otafiire, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of Uganda, Fax: + 256
41 4250829. E-Mail: mojca@africaonline.co.ug
• Mr. Mike Chibita, Director of Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice
and Constitutional Affairs of Uganda, Fax: +256-414-258-565/341-316, Email: admin@dpp.go.ug
• Uganda Human Rights
Commission, Email: uhrc@uhrc.ug Telephone: +256414348007
• Mr. Martin Ochola,
Inspector General of Police, Telephone: +256 (0) 712 755 999
• Mr. Barasa Ogajo, Resident District Commissioner of Mbale, Telephone:
+256772846478, Email: barasasuleimanogajo@gmail.com
• H.E. Christopher
Onyanga Aparr, Permanent Mission of Uganda to the United Nations in Geneva,
Switzerland. Fax: + 41 22 340 70 30. Email: mission.uganda@ties.itu.int
• H.E. Mirjam Blaak Sow,
Embassy of Uganda to the EU in Brussels, Belgium. Fax: + 32 2.763.04.38. Email:
ugembrus@brutele.be , info@ugandamission-benelux.org
• H.E. Attilio Pacifici, Head of the Delegation
of the European Union in Uganda, Phone: +256 312-701 000, Fax: +256 414-233
708, Email: delegation-uganda-ppi@eeas.europa.eu
• Mr. Cathal Gilbert, HRD Focal Point,
Delegation of the European Union in Uganda, Phone: +256 776 008 187, Email: cathal.gilbert@eeas.europa.eu.
Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Uganda in your
respective countries.
***
Paris-Geneva, December 13, 2019
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken
quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the
Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation Against
Torture (OMCT). The objective of this programme is to prevent or remedy
situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both
members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union
Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil
society.
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