Uganda

Uganda: UPDATE - Human rights defender Mr Al Amin Kimathi to go on trial for Ugandan World Cup bombingposted on: 2010/12/03

On 30 November 2010, the prosecution in the case of human rights defender Mr Al Amin Kirmathi who is accused of involvement in the World Cup suicide bombings in Kampala, sent the case to the Ugandan High Court for trial.

Further Information

Al Amin Kirmathi is due to go on trial with 17 others also accused of being involved in the bombing, while a further 17 were released and charges against them were dropped.

Al-Amin Kimathi is Executive Coordinator of Muslims Human Rights Forum (MHRF), and has been at the forefront in exposing and documenting human rights violations, arbitrary detention and unlawful renditions in the context of counter-terrorism operations in the East and Horn of Africa.

Al-Amin Kimathi was arrested in Kampala on 15 September 2010.

Uganda – Arrest of human rights defenders, Messrs Gerald Kankya, Simon Amanyire and Gilbert Rwaheru, members of Twerwaneho Listeners Clubposted on: 2010/10/29

Three members of Twerwaneho Listeners Club (TLC), Messrs Gerald Kankya, TLC coordinator, Simon Amanyire and Gilbert Rwaheru were arrested in Fort Portal, Western Uganda on 27 October 2010 and held in police custody until 28 October, when they were released on police bond. TLC is a non-governmental organisation based in Fort Portal that carries out human rights advocacy, including through radio programmes and human rights monitoring. Since 2006 it has been working on unlawful evictions from public community land.

Uganda: Update- Court hearing of human rights defender Dan Rubombora adjournedposted on: 2010/10/22

Human rights defender Mr Dan Rubombora was due to appear before the High Court in Uganda on 19 October, but has had his hearing adjourned until 03 November 2010. The hearing was rescheduled after the magistrate failed to attend.

UPDATE: Uganda - Charges against human rights defenders Prosper Businge and Joram Bintamanya dropped posted on: 2010/05/20

Subsequent to the Urgent Action issued on 7 May 2010, Front Line has received the following information with regard to the judicial and police harassment against human rights defenders Messrs Prosper Businge and Joram Bintamanya, members of the Twerwaneho Listeners' Club.

Uganda - UPDATE - Case dismissed against human rights defenders after two yearsposted on: 2009/09/23

Front Line welcomes the dismissal of the case against six human rights defenders from the Twerwaneho Listeners Radio Club in Uganda on 23 September 2009, after almost two years of ongoing judicial harassment.

Uganda: Smear campaign against LGBTI human rights defendersposted on: 2009/04/27

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of an intense media smear campaign against human rights defenders who work in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) human rights organisations, including Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG).

Uganda: Threats against human rights defenders, Ms Eugenie Mihigo Vumiliya and Mr Aaron Kamondo Byembaposted on: 2009/04/21

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of recent harassment and threats against human rights defenders, Ms Eugenie Mihigo Vumiliya and Mr Aaron Kamondo Byemba. Eugenie Mihigo Vumiliya is the Executive Director of The Women for Dignity and Development Foundation (WODIDEF), an organisation which seeks to improve the lives of refugee women and girls by using international human rights standards to advocate on their behalf. Aaron Kamondo Byemba is the Chairperson and researcher for the same organisation.

Uganda: Arbitrary detention of George Oundo and Kiiza Brendah and intimidation of other human rights defendersposted on: 2008/09/17

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defenders George Oundo and Kiiza Brendah were arbitrarily detained from 10 to 18 September 2008 and that Pepe Juliana Onziema, David Kato, Victor Julie Mukasa and Kasha Jacqueline have been subjected to intimidation by police and the authorities in Uganda.

Uganda: Arbitrary detention and torture of human rights defender Usaam Mukwaayaposted on: 2008/07/31

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the arbitrary detention and torture of Usaam Mukwaaya, a human rights defender working on issues of sexual health and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Uganda on 25 and 26 July 2008. Front Line previously communicated with you on 11 June 2008 in relation to the detention of Usaam Mukwaaya, together with two other human rights defenders, during a peaceful protest at the HIV/AIDS Implementers' Meeting on 4 June 2008.

Uganda: Charges brought against three LGBT rights defenders, Pepe Julian Onziema, Valentine Kalende and Usaam Mukwaayaposted on: 2008/06/11

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that charges of trespassing have been brought against Pepe Julian Onziema, Valentine Kalende and Usaam Mukwaaya, defenders of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Kampala, Uganda. Pepe Julian Onziema, Valentine Kalende and Usaam Mukwaaya work for Sexual Minorities in Uganda (SMUG), an organisation dedicated to the defence of LGBT rights. The charges were brought against them following their arrests on 4 June 2008 during a peaceful protest at the HIV/AIDS Implementers' Meeting, an annual event described as an opportunity for HIV programme implementers to share lessons learned and best practices in an effort to strengthen the efficacy of HIV/AIDS programmes. The event is co-sponsored by the President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), UNAIDS, the World Bank, the Global Fund, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+).