• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

Here are the 9 Human Rights concerns raised during this COVID-19 lockdown period

Stephen Kalema by Stephen Kalema
5 years ago
in National, News
26 1
Some of the people who were arrested recently for flouting the presidential directives on COVID19

Some of the people who were arrested recently for flouting the presidential directives on COVID19

ShareTweetSendShare

President Yoweri Museveni last month,issued the first set of directives as one of government’s strategic move to curb the spread of COVID-19 outbreak.

Some of the directives included banning of religious gatherings and suspension of school activities.

In the following addresses, the President announced a total lockdown by banning public and private transport as well as declaring a curfew.

However, according to a human right report issued on Friday this week, while implementing such directives, the levels of violating human rights have always kept on increasing.

Here are some of the most reported cases of human rights violations during this lockdown period;

1. The emerging vice of stigma and discrimination, according to the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), there are increasing cases and practices of discrimination and stigmatisation by the general public against suspected victims of Covid-19 and the persons discharged by the Ministry of Health from Hospitals and Institutional quarantine.

2. Domestic violence, since 18th March 2020, there has been an increasing rate of violence in various homes. This has been evidenced by the spikes in domestic violence in various parts of the country. There have been cases of spouses who have been clobbered to death. For example, one Leo Muhairwe of Kituuru LCI, Igwanjuru Parish, Kabwoya Sub-county in Kikuube District was allegedly killed because of selling a family radio to raise money for use during the lockdown. The wife is alleged to have accused him of selling the only radio they had for use to receive covid-19 related messages.

3. Unwarranted attacks on security agents by some civilians. Severally reports have emerged on attacks of security agents while they enforce government directives especially during the curfew time by some people in various communities who have decided to take the law into their own hands contrary to article 17 of the Constitution. For-example the recent attacks on one of the UPDF soldiers in Amuru District that has resulted into loss of one of the soldier’s eyes, the boda-boda cyclists who caused physical injuries to a traffic police officer in defiance of government directives on 17th April 2020 in Mbale District.

4. Use of excessive force by some security officers, although various security agents have done a recommendable work in implementing the president’s directives, there remains a great concern on the continued use of excessive force by some members of the security officers operating outside the aforementioned official government policy thus, leading to violations of the right to freedom from torture and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment or punishment, right to life and deprivation of the right to personal liberty, specifical detention beyond 48 hours as evidenced by the 128 complaints received by the UHRC during the period under review.

5. The culture of lawlessness, impunity and lack of respect for the rule of law. There is an increasing rate of lawlessness and failure by a cross-section of the population to adhere to the lawful directives issued by the Government generally. This explains the continued arrests by the security agents of the people found holding congregational prayers, those forging stickers to travel at whatever cost, those found defying or in breach of the curfew regulations, the traders who insist on carrying out the usual business.

6. Lack of support to the vulnerable and marginalised groups, According to UHRC, the disadvantaged and marginalised groups have been severely affected by the current crisis. The elderly, People With Disabilities, those with pre-existing health conditions and compromised immune systems such as the HIV/AIDs patients and pregnant women, are particularly vulnerable to the serious health consequences of COVID-19 and the lockdown.

7. Access to justice in criminal matters through courts of law: The Commission notes that the judicial processes have also been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The Commission particularly notes that the court sessions have been reduced, with only the Chief Magistrates countrywide working in the magisterial areas on selected days identified by key stakeholders.

8. Displacement of people due to evictions, and effects of landslides, despite the current situations some dangerous people have continued to be evicted people from their land despite the government ban on evictions during the lockdown period, for example, the eviction that took place in Luwero District recently.

9. Access to justice in criminal matters through courts of law has also been affected. As a result of this many suspects have to wait in police custody for days before the magistrates can attend to their matters, and this results into congestion in police cells which can increase risks of acquiring the disease.


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
Share6Tweet4SendShare

Related Posts

News

President Museveni to officiate at St. Gonzaga Gonza Day celebrations 

1st July 2025 at 11:17
News

UVTAB and Presidential Industrial hub officials meet to ensure competence of skilling project beneficiaries 

1st July 2025 at 11:04
Business

URA Cracks Down on Professional Enablers Fueling Tax Fraud in Uganda

1st July 2025 at 10:33
Next Post
Nakazibwe with Bruno K

I will convince Faridah Nakazibwe to join Parliament, says lover boy Bruno K 

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    1099 shares
    Share 440 Tweet 275
  • LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

    2282 shares
    Share 913 Tweet 571
  • Uganda’s Billionaires 2025: Once Again Sudhir Ruparelia Leads a Resilient Pack

    39 shares
    Share 16 Tweet 10
  • Pastor Bugingo Seeks Reconciliation with Teddy and Children, Prays for Makula’s Twins

    18 shares
    Share 7 Tweet 5
  • LIST : Gov’t releases Revised Salary Structure for Teachers, Police, and Prisons Staff for FY 2024/2025

    111 shares
    Share 44 Tweet 28
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

President Museveni to officiate at St. Gonzaga Gonza Day celebrations 

1st July 2025 at 11:17
Bwanika Joseph

BWANIKA JOSEPH: When Education Bows to Power, Dr. Tanga Odoi, General Moses Ali, and the Crisis of Intellectual Leadership in Uganda

1st July 2025 at 11:15

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia is set to speak at business forum in United Kingdom

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0

President Museveni to officiate at St. Gonzaga Gonza Day celebrations 

1st July 2025 at 11:17
Bwanika Joseph

BWANIKA JOSEPH: When Education Bows to Power, Dr. Tanga Odoi, General Moses Ali, and the Crisis of Intellectual Leadership in Uganda

1st July 2025 at 11:15

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda