By Kabuye Ronald
A group of journalists in Uganda have expressed concern about the continued shrinking civic space that they claim is characterized by an increase in human rights violations across the country.
The group that convened in Ntinde, Kampala, in a joint statement issued on Thursday, morning stated that the civic space is under threat globally, not just by rogue regimes that are hell bent on entrenching autocracy and suppressing citizen voices but also the Covid 19 pandemic.
“The imposition of curfews, lockdowns, suppression of freedoms such as assembly and physical association are all a test of democracy, human rights and civil liberties. For Uganda, civic space is being threatened by not only the pandemic but also state fear of civic actors in governance and human rights sector.
The increase in human rights violations in the country include: violation and intimidation against journalists, restricted access to internet and continued closure of 54 Non-government organizations, forced disappearance, torture, arbitrary detention and political prisoner ” reads a statement parts.
They also assert that security forces use Covid 19 restrictions as a pretext to beat, extort and arbitrary detain people thus violating their rights to freedom of expression and movement.
The journalists committed to write and publish free and fair reports and stories about the current situation in Uganda so as to increase public awareness about the impunities. And also called upon government to open the civil society organizations that were closed in addition to work towards eliminations of human rights abuses.
