UN Human Rights Office Seeks To Stay In Uganda After Being Kicked Out
The UN rights office said on Tuesday it was in discussion with Uganda over how to continue its work in the country after the government said it had to leave, a move activists say highlights the country’s deteriorating record on civil liberties.
The office was set up in 2006 and has brought to light widespread rights violations by security personnel including torture, illegal detentions and failure by the state to prosecute offenders.
Last week, the government of Uganda said they will not be renewing the host country agreement signed with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Uganda when it expires.
“In that regard, given the strong government commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, the prevailing peace throughout the country coupled with strong national human right institutions and a vibrant civil society with the capacity to monitor the promotion and protection of human rights throughout the country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to convey government’s decision not to renew the mandate of the OHCHR country office in Uganda beyond the current term,” the letter reads in part.
However, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk revealed that they are in discussions with president Museveni to see how they can continue with their work in Uganda.
“We are in discussions with the government of Uganda at the highest levels to see what can be done to continue our important work in the country,” OHCHR told the press.
“A conversation is being scheduled between the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, and the President of the Republic of Uganda. The High Commissioner’s view is that there should be a U.N. Human Rights presence everywhere.”
The government said in a letter to OHCHR that the U.N. presence was no longer necessary because of the progress it had made in developing a domestic capacity to monitor human rights compliance, including the emergence of a strong civil society.
