EA LAW SOCIETY DECRIES VIOLENCE AHEAD OF UGANDA POLLS

 

EALS President, Bernard Oundo

The East African Law Society (EALS) has decried the state of rule of law in Uganda ahead of January 14th General Elections.

The premier bar association in the region has attributed alleged human rights violations to  the government security agents.

"We have witnessed far reaching human rights violations, wanton killings and partisan policing,"the Arusha based regional body said yesterday.

Other human rights violations cited ahead 9of the polls are freezing of accounts of several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in the rule of law initiatives.

Incommunicado detention of human rights defenders and political opponents and trumped up criminal charges against advocates of rule of law are other concerns raised.

Uganda, a partner state with the East African Community (EAC), will hold its General Election on January 14th, 2021, the sixth in a row under mutli-partism.

But the regional bar association which has an observer status with the EAC , insists it is appalled by the election-related violence in recent days.

"It is with much trepidation that there are increasing reports on the deteriorating state of human rights", said Bernard Oundo, EALS President in a statement.

He appealed to President Yoweri Museveni and his security machinery to forthwith act to forestall further human rights violations.

He said the legal body condemns "in the strongest terms possible" violence lately meted to innocent civilians, lawyers, journalists, political activists and the general public.

He added that rule of law,human rights and adherence to good governance are well enshrined in the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC.

"These obligations are also available under the African Charter on Human and People's Rights", he pointed out.

The statement was endorsed by the presidents of  EALS chapters in Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda.

EALS said it was closely monitoring the situation in Uganda ahead of the polls to be held in the next two weeks.

Monitoring includes collection of crucial evidence that will enable the bar association to institute actions against acts that violate the EAC Treaty.