Uganda’s human legal rights watchdog (some would say lapdog), the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), yesterday, 24th November, 2022 released a cellular cellular phone application ostensibly to enhance access to the fee and information and facts about its routines in what appears to be a scratch-the-area go to make the fee pertinent to Ugandans.
The launch of the Uganda Human Legal rights Fee App was presided more than by junior minister for Details, Communications and Technology (ICT), Hon. Kabbyanga Godfrey Baluku.
The UHRC Application has features which include things like a tab by means of which a individual can lodge a human rights criticism to the commission but a criticism simply cannot be lodged anonymously and this tab doesn’t permit upload of files this sort of as images, documents, and so on.
– write-up continues after Advert under-
There is also an automatic characteristic by means of which a person can “chat” with the commission. We tried out making use of this characteristic very last evening and have not gained any suggestions at the time of composing.
All the remaining attributes have normal information and facts about the Uganda Human Legal rights Commission, the nature and scope of its work, a checklist of the commission’s offices nation broad and a record of human rights guaranteed underneath the constitution of Uganda ( Was the minister alluding to this when he talked about the application carrying authorized expert services?)
Some of the information you will uncover on this Application has currently been present (and even now does) on the Uganda Human Rights Fee web-site but we all know the distance to a web-site is farther than to an Application mounted on your cell phone.
As Human Rights attorney George Musisi advised us whilst examining this information: “The idea of the app in by itself is all right and it is a welcome transfer offered that all assistance companies are making an attempt to go ‘e’ [read digital] and to make approach to them greater for their clientele or bring expert services closer.”
– report carries on following Advertisement under-
The Uganda Human Legal rights Fee is a constitutional human body recognized less than Report 51 of the Structure with a large range of capabilities which include the tasks “to examine, at its have initiative or on a complaint designed by any individual or team of people from the violation of any human right” and “to keep track of the Government’s compliance with worldwide treaty and conference obligations on human rights.”
Uganda’s constitution gives the Human Legal rights commission powers equivalent to that of a court docket of legislation these kinds of as:
“to difficulty summons or other orders necessitating the attendance of any person just before the commission and the generation of any doc or document related to any investigation by the commission” “to concern any human being in regard of any issue issue under investigation right before the commission” and “to have to have any individual to disclose any data within his or her awareness appropriate to any investigation by the commission.”
In other words and phrases, the commission has a lot more than adequate powers to rein in on each individual feasible human rights violation in Uganda however the country and its govt have a notoriously inadequate human legal rights document.
Cellular cell phone Apps are by design and style intended to increase access to their builders and their providers but there is no proof to suggest there is a dearth of Ugandans petitioning the Uganda Human Legal rights Fee for redress versus human rights violations that are rampant in Uganda.
Why would a Fee inundated by human legal rights violation issues start a cell phone application searching for out more?
– article continues just after Advert beneath-
As George Musisi suggests: “The largest dilemma with the commission suitable now is not accessibility. It is not that individuals have been failing to entry it.”
The Uganda Human Legal rights Fee by its own experiences has constantly indicted the Govt of Uganda for human legal rights violations – this year, human rights concerns have hovered all over Covid-19, illegal detentions, torture, exportation of labour, among the other troubles.
Over and above making suggestions to state actors, the Uganda Human Rights Fee has no exhibit for concerted endeavours towards ending the horrible human legal rights scenario in the place.
– short article continues immediately after Advert under-
“Even individuals several who have accessed it (the commission)… gone there for petitions, they have not been handled. So the… App is not heading to improve the way it executes its mandate mainly because it has not taken its constitutional mandate critically.” George Musisi suggests, incorporating:
“We have not witnessed it visit areas of detention – the ungazzeted places and as a tribunal its functions are supposed to be speedier but they are a great deal slower than people of the Courts of Judicature.”
As the race for digitization of government services gains momentum, it is critical for bodies like the Uganda Human Legal rights Fee to prioritize the fundamentals.
Ugandans definitely do not want to lodge problems with the commission when they have an apprehension they will not be aided or aided in time – resolution of complaints can delay or be forfeited for one particular purpose or another but not in cases of human rights.
Instead, I won’t be surprised if Ugandans (remaining the hilarious variety) resort to spamming the commission with bogus and junk issues.
The Uganda Human Legal rights Commission need to as a substitute embark on a actual transformational journey in phrases of its attitudes in the direction of human legal rights troubles – and not just technological innovation for it is basically supplemental.
– posting carries on right after Ad down below-
“ So, App or no Application I really don’t anticipate any improve in the way it conducts its small business till it redefines and discovers its mandate.” George Musisi states.
Benjamin is a Authorized author and digital media fanatic who founded The Authorized Reviews web site in January, 2020 though a fourth year legislation scholar at Makerere University school of regulation.
Prior to that, Benjamin applied to generate beginner blogs and some of his legal commentaries ended up released by the Day by day Watch and Independent Magazine – both foremost publications in Uganda. He addresses legal professionals, legislation pupils, judges, judiciary, courts, law schools, and legislation firms.
More Stories
A New Way To Find A Reputable Car Accident Lawyer
Hakeem Jeffries’s historic election as House Democratic leader, explained
White House Says Immunity for MBS Was Unavoidable. Privately, They Weren’t So Sure.