Human rights defender Mr Tambwe Ibrahim was held captive for two hours and intimidated by what were believed to be plain clothed police officers on 22 October 2009 in Kampala. He was blamed by his captors for accompanying a TV journalist to refugee settlements. Tambwe Ibrahim is administrator of People for Peace and Defence of Rights (PPDR), an organisation working to protect the rights of refugees in Uganda.

Further Information

On 22 October 2009, Tambwe Ibrahim was stopped on his way home by three individuals. They asked Tambwe Ibrahim why he had accompanied a journalist to refugee settlements and one of them allegedly hit him on his face. They asked him several questions concerning his country of origin, work and organisation including whether the organisation was registered, how many people it employed, the name of the coordinator and who was paying them. One member of the group proposed bringing Tambwe Ibrahim to the police station, while another member of the group objected. He was then pushed into an unmarked car and driven around Kampala for two hours. The three individuals eventually freed him after requesting money, which Tambwe Ibrahim did not have.

These events occurred after Tambwe Ibrahim accompanied a journalist from the local TV station NTV to refugee settlements for an NTV report on living conditions in refugee camps produced in connection to the African Union Special Summit of Heads of State and Government on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons, held in Kampala from 19 to 23 October. Later that evening NTV broadcast the report showing images of refugee settlements. During the report, Tambwe Ibrahim was seen as the person taking the journalists to the refugee camps.

Members of PPDR have been targeted on several occasions due to their work on refugee camps. A member of PPDR, Mr Musafiri Prospere was reportedly arrested on 30 September 2009 for participating in a workshop organised by the Refugee Law Project. In April 2009, PPDR coordinator Mr Kulihoshi Musikami reported having been assaulted by unknown individuals near his home and injured.

Front Line is concerned at the attacks against members of PPDR and believes that the assault against Tambwe Ibrahim was motivated by his human rights work, in particular in exposing the poor living conditions in refugee settlements.

Front Line urges the authorities in Uganda to:

1. Carry out an immediate, impartial and thorough investigation into the assault and brief detention of Tambwe Ibrahim, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

2. Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity and security of Tambwe Ibrahim and all members of PPDR;

3. Ensure in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Uganda are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals.