Donors caution government on rights violation

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1395694/-/avh9acz/-/index.html

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 29 APRIL 2012

“We are watching to ensure you avoid excesses.” That is the message diplomats accredited to Kampala have consistently given to the government in Kampala since the start of disturbances in April last year.
The message has not changed, according to Norwegian ambassador to Uganda Thorbjorn Gaustadsaether.

Ambassador Gaustadsaether was responding a to a question on whether the diplomatic community was okay with the ongoing confrontations between unarmed civilians and a police armed with lethal weapons in Kampala.“There is no secret that when there was this situation in Uganda from last year, the international community said you must be careful and watch against any excesses,” said Ambassador Gaustadsaether on Thursday.

“That’s something that we have discussed,” he said to journalists during the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) regional conference in Kampala his country co-hosted with the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Though not part of the agenda the confrontations between the police and opposition protesters some of whom appear armed with stick and stones seemed to continuously creep through the discussions at the two-day conference.

Questions were raised about whether violations of human rights in the confrontations can be classified under IHL.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs (Regional Cooperation), Asuman Kiyingi defended the government’s handling of the confrontations and was keen to demonstrate that they were an internal matter.

Asked to explain whether the level armory the police was deploying against the protesters was not out of balance, Kiyingi said, “I need to be corrected, I am not an expert in international law but what I have read and my limited understanding of the subject, IHL concerns itself with armed conflicts where there are armed groups (fighting against each other) and civilians are caught in the middle.”

Mr Kiyingi said the “context” of the Uganda’s situation “had to be understood” arguing that the police had used maximum restraint.

He, however, emphasised that “any excesses would be dealt with.”
The police has once again found itself at the center of controversy over what appears to be gradually declining respect for human rights in dealing with political protesters.

The IHL conference recognised Uganda’s contribution in the peacekeeping effort in Somalia and particularly the effort to keep strict observance of human rights.

The conference attracted delegates from some 40 countries who represented their countries security agencies especially the army and the police, legal minds and some civil society actors.

Mbarara women protest police brutality

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1395708/-/avh8pqz/-/index.html

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 29 APRIL 2012

Women sit in the middle of the road after police blocked their procession to the UHRC offices in Mbarara on Thursday. 

IN SUMMARY

The police, that had blocked the women from marching to the UHRC Mbarara office, allowed them to proceed after they threatened to strip naked.

Forum for Democratic Change women activists in Mbarara Town clashed with police officers as they marched to Uganda Human Rights Commission, (UHRC) Regional offices to present their petition against the Force’s brutality.

Women stoppedThe Thursday protest saw women carrying placards condemning the indecent manner in which police assaulted and arrested FDC Women League leader Ingrid Turinawe last week.

Police, that had deployed an hour earlier, intercepted the group along the main street near Hotspot Restaurant and blocked them. The women later decided to sit in the middle of the road, blocking traffic.

“We are carrying out a peaceful demonstration to protest the disservice and brutality you have done to the women of this country. You should not block us. Enough is enough. If it means undressing ourselves we are going to do it if you don’t allow us proceed to the human rights offices,” a charged Prossy Kabarungi, the Mbarara District FDC women league leader told police.

After haggling with the South Western Regional Police Commander, Mr Nkoore Mujuni and Mbarara District Police Commander, Mr Kenneth Muheirwe, for over 10 minutes, the women were allowed to move to UHRC offices escorted by police and successfully delivered their petition.

The South Western Region Police Spokesperson, Ms Polly Namaye, said the women had not notified them

Police brutality: Activists ask IGP, Minister to resign

Kyambogo University student ‘goes missing’ as activist fears for her life

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1394880/-/avhw2lz/-/index.html

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 27 APRIL 2012

A university student, who recently received threatening messages on his cellphone reportedly from an unknown person, has gone missing for the past two days.

This was revealed at a press conference held at the university premises yesterday by Kyambogo FDC Students Chapter.Mr John Mugabi, a first year student of mechanical engineering at Kyambogo University, reportedly disappeared while on his way home to Bweyogerere, a Kampala suburb.

According to his colleagues, Mr Mugabi was one of the seven students who recently received threatening messages from unknown people.

The messages that Daily Monitor has seen read: “We are warning you that whatever you are planning, we are watching you. Try and burn the city tomorrow or next…, we are around you, stand warned.”

The university public relations officer, Mr Lawrence Madete, dismissed claims that the police had kidnapped one of their students.

“The police is supposed to protect the student but not to kidnap him. I don’t believe so, but let me find out,” said Mr Madete .

After, he said he had contacted Mugabi’s friends who informed him that they saw the student on Wednesday.

Clueless
The police officer in-charge of Kyambogo police station, Mr Martin Mbabazi, denied having received any information about the kidnapping of the student.

He explained that Mugabi has never reported to them about the threatening short messages reportedly sent on his cell phone.

Elsewhere, Ms Barbara Allimadi, one of the women activists who stripped to their bras on Monday protesting the brutal manner in which FDC’s Ingrid Turinawe was arrested, used the same forum to express fear that her life is in danger.

“At this time, I would like to be on record as having expressed concern about my own personal safety and security and that of some of our university students…..” said Ms Allimadi

She added: “…..in one of our meetings with students at Makerere University, two unidentified men approached our table and took our photographs. Some of the students are also being intimidated by security and they have reported receiving threatening calls and text messages on their cellphones.”

It was not clear whether she had registered a complaint with police.

SAFE WALK
Shortly after the press conference, the students who were over twenty in number, walked from the university to Nakawa market to have lunch. Ms Allimadi was among them.

Walk2Work - The Scenes that We Will Never Forget

Mr. Wafula Oguttu of the opposition being bundled onto a truck.

Teargas, I believe, consumes over 45% of the police budget, yet the policemen themselves live on less than a dollar a day with their families.

Scenes like these were littered all round the city because live rounds were flying all round the city. Many got injured and some of our unfortunate brothers and sisters got killed.

Kizza Besigye's gate into his residence has since become a camping site for policemen and journalists.

Nandala Mafabi and Wafula Oguttu. They too were later arrested for being 'Idle and Disorderly'.

Even the Lord Mayor got arrested afew times, because he is also of the opposition Democratic Party.

Ready for any eventuality? I'd say!!

The policeman in brown uniform got in the line of fire of pepper stray that was being aimed at Dr. Besigye. Talk about a dose of his own medicine!!!

The infamous Arinaitwe with the infamous pistol.

Ugandans in diaspora also had their say.

The pregnant woman who was shot in the stomach by a stray bullet. It's a miracle that both she and the unborn baby survived...

... some were unfortunate.

A child caught up in the commotion and teargas. It is good Samaritans such as these who got arrested by the police.

They literally tore him apart dragging this man. He could be in jail right now awaiting the hearing of his case.

A deserted street in Kampala at the peak of the tension

Primary school kids in Kasangati who had teargas chucked at them during class period

A now blinded Besigye being hustled to the infamous blue police van. He was later flown to Nairobi for treatment, and later the United States.

A man whose eye was gouged out by a stray bullet.

State A No Show In Anti-M7 Book Author Case

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SOURCE: THE RED PEPPER, 24 APRIL 2012

The case against anti-M7 book author Doreen Nyanjura has failed to kick off after the state failed to show up in court for the second time.

Nyanjura together with Ibrahim Bagaya were arrested at Constitutional Square eleven days ago when after a plot to have opposition leader Kizza Besigye launch their book, “IS IT THE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE? Unveiling The Hidden Truth”, was botched by police.

Nyanjura was then remanded to Luzira but released a few days later after university students from MUBS, Kyambogo, MUK and KIU vowed to the IGP Kale Kayihura that they would march on the streets of Kampala until their colleagues were released.

However the state seems to have lost interest in the case as it has failed to appear in court to pin Nyanjura on charges of illegal assembly and inciting violence.

Grade I magistrate Justine Nansambu said she was going to send the file back to the Director of Public Prosecution and adjourned the case to April 23

A4C rebrands to 4GC

Activists strip to protest Assault on Turinawe

Breast Parade Causes Riots Infront Of Bewildered Cops

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SOURCE: THE RED PEPPER, 23 APRIL 2012

4GC women activists flash their boobs before police 

There was drama at Kampala central police station this morning when a group of half naked women paraded breasts causing mesmerized cops to ‘riot’.

The women were demonstrating the manner in which opposition FDC iron lady Ingrid Turinawe was arrested last week.

A cross section of Ugandans including the recently vocal government critic Bishop Zac Nyiringiye has condemned the inhuman manner in which Ingrid was arrested in Nansana after a planned rally under the new pressure group For God and My Counrty (AGC) was launched.

Ingrid said she was harassed by cops who squeezed her breasts during the arrest. She said she witnessed sexual terrorism for the first time in her life.

Police this morning moved to arrest the demonstrators and fired teargas at bewildered reporters who were covering the unusual event.

Those arrested include Ingrid’s aide Happy Twinomugisha, Barbara Alimadi, Aisha Nagudi, Harriet Nakiyemba,Winfred Nakajubi  and Teo Namutebi.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander Andrew Felix Kaweesi said at CPS that after cautioning and counseling the women, police had to release them and warned that next time they would not escape jail.

“Indeed these women had committed a public nuisance offence which is unlawful that’s why we apprehended them to prevent them from inciting violence as well,” a bewildered Kaweesi explained.

He also disclosed that police have established new restrictions on journalists who wish to cover any story at any of the police stations across the country. He said that the restrictions are intended to avoid confusion about police actions.

Women Flash Breasts Infront Of Police Station

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SOURCE: THE RED PEPPER, 23 APRIL 2012

There was drama at Kampala central police station this morning when a group of half naked women demonstrated in front of mesmerized cops.

The women were demonstrating the manner in which FDC iron lady Ingrid Turinawe was arrested last week.

A cross section of Ugandans including the recently vocal government critic Bishop Zac Nyiringiye has condemned the inhuman manner in which Ingrid was arrested in Nansana after a planned rally under the new pressure group For God and My Counrty (AGC) was launched.

Ingrid said she was harassed by cops who squeezed her breasts during the arrest. She said she witnessed sexual terrorism for the first time in her life.

Police this morning moved to arrest the demonstrators and fired teargas at bewildered reporters who were covering the unusual event.

Those arrested include Ingrid’s aide Happy Twinomugisha, Barbara Alimadi  and Teo Namutebi.

Police arrest women activists

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1392006/-/avjh6iz/-/index.html

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 23 APRIL 2012

Women demonstrating at the Central Police Station protesting against the brutal arrest of the FDC’s Ingrid Turinawe. 

Several women were on Monday morning arrested after stripping down to their bras at Kampala Central Police Station (CPS) as they protested the brutal manner in which the opposition Forum for Democratic Change Women’s League leader Ingrid Turinawe was arrested last Friday.

The women first held a press conference at Open House at Buganda Road in Kampala before marching to CPS while holding placards. When they reached CPS, they stripped down to their bras, prompting the police to order them to leave the station. They were arrested after they refused to heed to this call.Ms Turinawe was assaulted on Friday as the police blocked a rally called by the opposition in Nansana, outside Kampala.

The Daily Monitor is yet to ascertain how many women were arrested.

SEWUNGU SPEAKS OUT ON POLICE BRUTALITY

Police under fire over Ingrid arrest

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1391926/-/avjydsz/-/index.html

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 23 APRIL 2012

Television image grabs showing the brutal arrest of FDC Women League leader Ingrid Turinawe on Friday. 

IN SUMMARY

Indecent act. Members of Parliament, rights activists and a bishop yesterday criticised the Police for the brutal assault of the opposition politician on Friday.

Uganda’s police was last evening asked to apologise as it came under a barrage of criticism from women and human rights defenders scandalised by the latest assault of a female opposition activist by its officers.
Forum for Democratic Change Women’s League leader Ingrid Turinawe had her right breast repeatedly grabbed and fondled by what looked a policeman on Friday.

Yesterday, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Mr Ibin Ssenkumbi, insisted that policewomen carried out the arrest.She was assaulted on her way to a protest rally in Nansana, outside Kampala.

“But all the same, there have been concerns over the arresting exercise. The police are investigating the mistakes committed during the incident and whoever will be found in error will be disciplined,” he said in a telephone interview.

Women and rights activists described the treatment of Ms Turinawe as brutal, cruel and condemned the Force for violence against women.

Ms Betty Amongi, the chairperson of the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association, said the police officers targeted Ms Turinawe to humiliate her.

“It is an attack on her womanhood and the arrest was against the policy of employing women in the Force. We demand an apology and action against the errant officers,” Ms Amongi said, adding that this was an attack against women.

Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal and Ms Alice Alaso, the Serere Woman MP, described the act as painful, inhuman and evil.

“What Ingrid was given cannot be given to a prisoner of war. We have been hearing of women suspects being raped in custody by police officers and we were discounting them. But the man who handled Ingrid would have raped her if he had an opportunity,” Ms Alaso said.

Information Minister Mary Karooro Okurut, who last week protested to a local tabloid over what she felt was its undermining of women in a story about the alleged attractiveness of particular women MPs, was brief in her reaction.
“I am not aware of the incident but if it is true, it is a police case,” she said.

Opposition politician Anne Mugisha, in an email, stated that the incident was further confirmation of police brutality against protestors.

She said since April 2011, women at the forefront of the walk-to-work protests have come face-to-face with bare-knuckled brutality.

Ms Mugisha’s statement recalled how a two-year-old baby girl Juliana Nalwanga was shot dead by security men and how a pregnant woman almost died after being shot in the belly.

“Over time, women have remained active in the protests and police brutality against them has continued. However, the silence of the women’s movement over the treatment of these women activists has been deafening,” she said.
Ms Mugisha promising action against the police for allowing “this nauseating behaviour”, also decrying “sexual violence and any other kind against peaceful protestors.”

Mr Livingstone Sewanyana, the executive director at the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, regretted the dehumanising actions of police officers .

Bishop decries arrest

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SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 23 APRIL 2012

The Assistant Bishop of Kampala Diocese, the Rev Zac Niringiye, has condemned the manner in which some policemen manhandle women while arresting them.

“This is not the first time a woman is humiliated at the hands of a male police officer but those issues are always suppressed. This time Gen. Kayihura should show authority of his position,” Bishop Niringiye said.Bishop Niringiye made the call yesterday while addressing a congregation at Bugolobi Church of Uganda.
He tasked the Police Chief, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, to take disciplinary action against the male police officer whose image was captured on a video footage and telecast on televisions manhandling FDC Women’s League leader Ingrid Turinawe last Friday.

“The level of crime against females at the hands of police, which is supposed to protect them, is increasing but the top leaders are not bothered about the situation,” he said.

The cleric urged women to march to Parliament and present troubles they face at the hands of male police officers otherwise they will continuously be humiliated.

The bishop also asked NRM supporters to relieve the President Museveni of the burden of leadership.

He said Mr Museveni has always had an excuse that if his party members decide to free him of leadership he has no objection.

“Our country has never had a history of a president leaving power peacefully. Once supporters of NRM give Mr Museveni this opportunity, it will be the beginning of a new history,” Bishop Niringiye said.