The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, has asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeje Odongo, to respond to allegations of the use of Uganda’s consulate in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a casino. 

This follows media reports indicating that Uganda’s consulate building in Dubai, is being used as a covert casino, an issue picked up and raised as a matter of national importance by the Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi (NUP, Kyadondo County East) during the sitting of Parliament on Thursday 1 August 2024.   

Nkunyingi called for an investigation into the allegations, saying that the matter, if left unchecked, has international ramifications.  

“Parliament pushed for this consulate to extend support and services to Ugandans who are thousands living in Dubai. Surprisingly turning the consulate into a casino and a gambling house contravenes the laws of UAE, our laws and international laws governing diplomatic premises,” Nkunyingi said. 

Nkunyingi justified that the consulate was established and therefore expected to be managed in accordance with the law.

“As well we want to know what disciplinary, diplomatic and administrative steps that have been undertaken to address this development,” he said. 

Nkunyingi raised the question seeking a response from the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabanjja, who guided that the matter should be handled by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

“The Minister mentioned here is also an MP, now that you have requested for a statement, I will make sure he comes here to give a statement over the matter,” said Nabanjja. 

Deputy Speaker Tayebwa said, “On Tuesday, we shall have the Minister on schedule.”  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Legislators have commended the outgoing World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Director, Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam for his role in the fight against the Covid-19 and Ebola epidemics.

In his communication to the House on Thursday, 01 August 2024, the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa said Woldemariam played a critical role in supporting Uganda’s health infrastructure over the last six years.

“For those who remember the time when they announced the first case of Covid, he was standing by the Minister of Health and took part in  the Covid briefings and interventions ,” said Tayebwa.

He added that his contribution in fighting Covid, Ebola, malaria and HIV among other diseases has gone a long way in ensuring improved healthcare for Ugandans.

“I had a long talk with him on some of these issues and I will share with the Committee on Health on how best we can improve our health sector. Your excellency, we thank you so much for the good service you rendered to the people of Uganda and the continent at large,” Tayebwa added.

The Chairperson of the Health Committee, Hon. Samuel Opio said Woldemariam’s role in supporting Uganda’s fight against Ebola enabled the country to be declared Ebola-free in 2022, having contained it within a period of 69 days.

He added that during his tenure, Uganda received commendation for its containment of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“During the Covid fight, Lancet declared Uganda as having the best emergency and pandemic response in containing the Covid-19 virus. So whereas we were in lockdown, he was able to lock down the virus,” Opio said.

Hon. Sarah Opendi (NRM, Tororo District Woman Representative) said Woldemariam started his tour of duty in Uganda in 2018 when she served as the State Minister for Health noting that they worked closely to ensure strong health systems especially in improving laboratories.

“WHO is a key partner of our health sector especially in giving technical support. Dr. Yonas has not just been a country representative but has also given technical guidance to the Ministry of Health. Whenever we had issues in the health sector, he was always by the side of the political and technical leaders to provide necessary support,” Opendi said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Kira Municipality Member of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Ssemujju, has castigated government over the recent arrest of members of opposition party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), in neighboring Kenya. 

Thirty-six FDC leaders were last Tuesday arrested in Kisumu, Kenya and have since been charged with terrorism in Ugandan courts and remanded to Luzira prison. 

Ssemujju questioned the legality of the arrest of Ugandans in Kenya during plenary sitting on Thursday 01 August 2024. 

“One of the 36 kidnapped is actually a registered refugee in Kenya, there was no extradition order, they were attending a leadership training,” he said adding that “Some of them were brutalised during the kidnapping. We want to ask government to tell us, under which arrangement did they go to Kenya to kidnap FDC leaders.”  

Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka refuted claims of kidnap, saying that the suspects were lawfully arrested and have been charged before the Ugandan courts of law. 

“If there are any issues of them being beaten [or] wrongly arrested, they can be raised in court at the appropriate time, and we have laws to deal with such. If in fact a person was tortured at the time of their arrest, that case will be dismissed. That is a good defense that you can put before the court,” he added.  

Ssemujju however contended that his issue was government’s disregard of bilateral relations, questioning the legal basis upon which Ugandan security operatives carried out the arrest in another country. 

“I have not complained that they were charged, I am talking about bilateral matters that you can walk into Kenya and kidnap people. Under what arrangement did you go to a Catholic church in Kenya and kidnap people and bring them without necessary legal documents. That is not a matter of court,” he said. 

Kiryowa Kiwanuka in his response said, “Even the manner in which people are collected, if at all from a neighboring country or another country is prescribed by law and we are saying that these people were charged, they are properly before court and if you think the procedure was not done properly, then you can actually be a good witness to support their release.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Former high-ranking officials sentenced to long prison terms for crimes against humanity. The trial of the 28 September 2009 massacre has just ended with a historic verdict welcomed by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), its member organisation in Guinea, the Organisation guinéenne de défense des droits de l’Homme et du citoyen (OGDH), and their partner the Association des victimes, parents et amis du 28 septembre 2009 (AVIPA) – the civil parties in the trial; The charges against former Guinean president Moussa Dadis Camara and six high-ranking officers were reclassified as crimes against humanity and they were sentenced to heavy prison terms, ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment; The victims are obtaining compensation, medical support and care; This verdict demonstrates that a positive complementarity between the International Criminal Court and a national jurisdiction is possible when the political will of a State provides the necessary resources to national justice.

This is the end of a historic trial, whose verdict was read out for almost four hours this afternoon and that will be a landmark for international criminal justice and the fight against impunity. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), its member organisation in Guinea, the Organisation guinéenne de défense des droits de l’Homme et du citoyen (OGDH), and their partner, the Association des victimes, parents et amis du 28 septembre 2009 (AVIPA) welcome this emblematic verdict. The three NGOs were civil parties in the trial and accompanied more than 730 victims in their quest for justice.

“This verdict is a victory for all the men and women who have been fighting for 15 years to see justice done“, said Drissa Traore, lawyer and Secretary General of FIDH. “We can be satisfied with the decision, which we consider to be in accordance with the law, despite the ongoing pain of the victims. We salute their courage and determination during the long months of hearings. We hope that this verdict will help to alleviate the suffering and mourning in Guinea.“

On 28 September 2009 and in the days that followed, members of the Guinean defence and security forces, including members of the presidential guard, orchestrated a massacre in and around Conakry’s stadium. Among the peaceful demonstrators massed in the stadium, at least 156 people were killed and dozens are missing. More than a hundred women were victims of rape or other forms of sexual violence, including genital mutilation and sexual slavery.

Twelve defendants, including Moussa Dadis Camara, the former Guinean president at the time of the events, were charged with murder, assassination, rape, intentional assault and battery, torture, kidnapping and sexual violence. In the case of Moussa Dadis Camara and six high-ranking officers, the court reclassified the charges as crimes against humanity. They were sentenced to heavy prison terms ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.

“This verdict is a victory for all human rights defenders, and those who demand justice. This court decision is a reminder to all leaders and military and police forces around the world that the time for justice is long, but that the fight against impunity will be conducted at all levels, in national, regional, local and international courts“, said Martin Pradel, victims’ lawyer and member of the FIDH Judicial Action Group.

A trial under pressure

There were numerous incidents throughout the trial, which began in 2022, including spectacular escapes by some of the accused, break-ins at civil party organisations, and pressure and threats against civil society and the court. The absence of Claude Pivi, the former Minister in charge of Presidential Security, who has been on the run since 4 November 2023, terrified many of the victims, who preferred not to go to the courthouse and watch the trial live on television.

However, FIDH, OGDH, and AVIPA believe that Guinean justice has managed to function in this difficult context and welcome the holding of this unprecedented trial – 22 months of hearings – during which the victims’ voices were heard. This lengthy legal process has helped to uncover the truth and mobilise international public opinion in favour of justice for serious human rights violations.

“This trial will mark a decisive turning point in the history of Guinea: it will break the cycle of impunity for the serious human rights violations that have been committed regularly since 1958 by the defence and security forces and senior politicians“, said DS Bah, vice-president of OGDH and coordinating lawyer for the civil parties’ lawyers’ collective. “Despite the pressure, the Guinean judiciary has brought this trial to a successful conclusion. It is an example that should inspire people beyond the country’s borders and encourage victims to never give up, wherever they are in the world.”

“Today marks the culmination of a 15-year battle. This date will always be engraved in our memories. Personally, i lost my son that day. I shared the sadness of all the victims and we encountered many difficulties“, recalls Asmaou Diallo, President of AVIPA. “Our fight will not stop here. We will continue so that every victim gets compensation and this never happens again in Guinea.“

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH).