UN experts call on Uganda to repeal law that restricts assembly

11, August 2013(KAMPALA) – United Nations human rights experts have called on the Ugandan government to repeal a bill passed last week by parliament saying it places restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

On Tuesday last week Uganda’s parliament passed the Public Order Management Bill which requires that any protests of more than three people will require authorisation from the police.

President Yoweri Museveni is yet to ascend to the bill but its passing has been heavily criticised by both local and international human rights groups including three UN human rights experts.

On Friday, Maina Kiai, the Special Rapporteur freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Frank La Rue, Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression and Margaret Sekaggya, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders called upon Ugandan to repeal the law.

“Unless this law is amended to comply with Uganda’s international legal obligations, it must be revoked. We are at the full disposal of the Government of Uganda to provide any technical assistance it may require to ensure this law meets international human rights law and standards,” the experts said in a news release on Friday.

Maina Kiai, the Special Rapporteur freedom of peaceful assembly and of association said the law effectively bans public gatherings.

“Requiring prior authorization from the authorities to hold an assembly may result in an effective ban on certain gatherings, which violates Uganda’s international obligations,” said Maina Kiai adding that “the requirement to list the names of all participants[ in a gathering] serves only to frighten people from expressing their right to peaceful assembly.”

On her part Margaret Sekaggya, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders said the law aims at limiting the work of human rights defenders.

“By excluding assemblies for social, religious, cultural, charitable, educational, commercial or industrial purposes, as well as meetings of any political party from its provisions, it is clear that this law is not intended to protect public safety during public events, but is designed to unduly limit those who wish to publicly defend their human rights,” she said.

Amnesty International said the law ”represents a represents a serious blow to open political debate in the country”.

Uganda heads for general elections in 2016. Critics of the Kampala government say the law will make it difficult for the opposition to mount a significant challenge to President Yoweri Museveni who has ruled Uganda for the last 27 years.

(ST)