Africa-Press – Uganda. The Ugandan government through its Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa has asked the European Union (EU) Parliament to respect the country’s sovereignty and ensure non-interference if relations between the two are to be sustained.
The EU Parliament last week adopted 19 resolutions taking the stock of human rights violations in Uganda in the period before, during, and after the recent elections. In the resolutions, was a call for justice for Ugandans who died in the November 2020 riots, and a call for sanctions against individuals and organizations responsible for human rights violations in Uganda.
The Parliament also called for scrutiny of Uganda’s fiscal management and transparency and systematic reviews of the EU budget support programs and asked the government to stop using COVID-19 enforcement to violate the rights and freedoms of its opponents. Also adopted is a recommendation to ensure freedom of the press, to secure unrestricted internet access, and ensure the unconditional release of all those arrested and detained for ‘protesting peacefully’, among others.
Now in a 10-page letter dated February 15, Mr Kutesa wrote to the President of the European Parliament, indicating that the body was undermining Ugandan institutions and the sovereignty of the country. Mr Kutesa, who responded to all the allegations at a time indicated that Uganda and EU relations are historical and strong, but their sustenance will depend on the ability to uphold the universally accepted principles of mutual respect, non-interference, and sovereignty.
Mr Kutesa stated that the EU resolution was undermining Ugandan institutions like the courts of law and the Electoral Commission, highlighting that he was particularly perturbed by the resolution that refers to the process and the results declared by the Electoral Commission, which, according to him is a mockery of the rule of law and an attempt to influence the outcome of the ongoing court process.
“This statement is clearly partisan in tone and intent. We see this as an attempt to undermine and challenge the Electoral Commission and its work,” he said.
On elections, Mr Kutesa said that presidential candidates Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (NUP) and Patrick Oboi Amuriat (FDC) chose to defy all the standard operating procedures set by the Ministry of health and that is why they were arrested.
“These two repeatedly told or intimated to their supporters that COVID-19 was a hoax, incited them and willingly breached the SOPs, organizing mass rallies, thereby putting the lives of everyone, not just themselves and their supporters, at risk in the middle of a pandemic,” Mr Kutesa said.
Mr Kutesa said that following the arrest of Kyagulanyi, there was a pre-planned and funded riot in which his supporters engaged in robbery, mounting of illegal roadblocks, assaulting innocent people, and attacks on security personnel in Kampala which resulted into arrests.
“The Government is on record as stating that the incidents of November 2020 were regrettable and will continue to be investigated with a view to determining conclusively if and where operational mistakes were made by individual security personnel thereby unlawfully causing death in particular cases,” he said, adding that the government will compensate those whose loved ones died innocently in the shootings.
Mr Kutesa said Uganda achieved a historic milestone in holding a peaceful election amidst COVID-19 and he is, therefore, “quite frankly concerned how the EU Parliament in its resolution downplays the threat of COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda” well aware of the stringent measures EU countries have taken to fight COVID-19. He says campaigns in some parts of the country were suspended for all the candidates and this was not a pretext to restrict the opposition.
On the issue of gay rights, Mr Kutesa said that Uganda does not condone the promotion of sexual orientation of any kind, but maintained that gay persons are not being persecuted in Uganda.
On threats to sanction individuals involved, Mr Kutesa has described it as regrettable, unwarranted, and unwelcome and a barely disguised attempt to intimidate officials entrusted with ensuring the security and well-being of all Ugandans into dodging responsibility. Mr Kutesa instead called for those advocating for the sanctions to reconsider this decision.
On media, Mr Kutesa said that Uganda understands the importance of the media, that’s why hundreds of them are licensed, but many had started broadcasting hate speech and calling for people to protest in the streets and when the severity of the messages became apparent, the government responded by shutting the internet which has since been restored.
He says there is proof that the strategy worked as elections were peaceful and the country has moved on. Mr Kutesa also said the west has twisted President Museveni’s call for mutual respect has been treated as anti-western.
On missing persons and kidnaps, Mr Kutesa said that missing persons are being looked for while all those arrested will be prosecuted.
On freezing accounts of Non-Governmental Organizations and Civil Society, Mr Kutesa said the government recognizes the critical role played by them in the advancement of democracy and a better society, however, he added that all organizations are expected to comply with the law.
Mr Kutesa said Uganda is concerned from both a political view and a healthy view about the timing of the resolution at a time when the world is battling COVID-19, adding that the government of Uganda is committed to ensuring domestic tranquility, the security, and the welfare of its citizens.
