MUSEVENI APPOINTS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONERS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KAMPALA 000628

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV UG
SUBJECT: MUSEVENI APPOINTS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONERS


1. (SBU) Summary: President Museveni named four commissioners to the
Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) on May 7, finally filling the
vacancies after six crippling months of inactivity. The
appointments will allow the UHRC to resume hearing cases of human
rights violations, which had stalled awaiting the new appointments.
Some human rights activists have criticized the appointments,
expressing concern that the new appointees are too close to the
ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. Over the past
year, the UHRC had shown increased signs of independence. Given
these concerns we will watch the new commission closely. End
Summary.

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President Names New Human Rights Commissioners
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2. (U) Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki swore-in four new UHRC
commissioners on May 13. One Commissioner is yet to be named to the
seven-member quasi-judicial body. Parliament established UHRC in
1996 to investigate human rights violations, sensitize the public on
human rights issues, and make recommendations to Parliament for
promoting human rights. The Commission is also responsible for
monitoring the government's compliance with international treaty and
convention obligations on human rights.

3. (SBU) UHRC Director of Complaints and Investigations Roslyn
Segawa told POLOFF that UHRC staff felt relieved that a new team had
been named to conduct tribunal hearings and make judgments after six
months of inactivity. She said that over 450 cases had been stalled
since November 2008 due to the absence of commissioners. Segawa
reported that the new commissioners were being briefed and, given
their varied backgrounds, were engaged in relevant training. The
top priority of the UHRC going forward would be to reduce the case
backlog and increase efforts to pressure the Government to
compensate torture victims, she explained.


4. (U) The Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI),Human
Rights Network (HURINET),and Human Rights Watch Africa released a
joint statement welcoming the appointments. The local human rights
organizations stressed the importance of the human rights body in
providing an avenue by which victims of abuse could seek redress.
They expressed concern, however, that the new appointees were too
close to the ruling NRM party and reminded the new commissioners of
their constitutional mandate to address human rights issues
objectively. The coalition called on the Government to comply with
UHRC recommendations made in its annual report to Parliament, pushed
for the enactment of anti-torture legislation, and urged the
Government to compensate torture victims in accordance with UHRC
rulings.

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Biographical Information
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5. (U) The new commissioners include the following:

-- Meddie Kaggwa, 54, is the new Chair of the UHRC. A lawyer by
profession, Kaggwa was a private attorney prior to his appointment
to the UHRC. He previously served as Minister of State in the
President's Office, a Constituent Assembly delegate, and an NRM
Member of Parliament representing Kawempe South, Kampala District.
Kaggwa also served as a member of the East African Legislative
Assembly until 2006 and was a member of the Commission that gathered
views for the enactment of the 1995 Constitution.

-- Joseph Etima, 68, is a former Commissioner General of the Uganda
Prisons Service. He worked as a Commissioner on the United Nations
Commission for Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and as a member
of the UN Professional and Technical Advisory Board for Correctional
and Criminal Justice. Etima has a degree in correctional
administration and a certificate in international humanitarian law
and international criminal justice.

-- Agaba Maguru, 49, is a private attorney and the founder of Agaba
and Company Advocates. He is a member of the Uganda Law Council, a
supervisory and regulatory body for lawyers.

-- Amooti Katebalirwe, 67, is a Professor of Political Economy and
Literary Communication at Makerere University, Kampala. He
previously worked as a Program Officer at the National Council for
Children and as a National Coordinator for UNDP. He is a former
member of the Media Council and Kyambogo University Council.

-- Miriam Wangadya, 44, will serve his third term on the UHRC. A
lawyer by profession, Wangadya worked with Dagira and Company
Advocates before she was appointed to the UHRC in 1996.

-- Constantine Karusoke, 66, will serve his third term on the UHRC.
He is a former Member of the National Resistance Council (former
parliament) representing Ntoroko, Bundibugyo District. A teacher by
profession, Karusoke graduated has a Bachelor's Degree of Education

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from Makerere University and has served in various senior positions
within the Ministry of Education.

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Comment
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6. (SBU) While unfortunately delayed, we welcome the Government's
appointments to the UHRC to allow the Commission to resume handling
human rights cases, serving as an important avenue for redress on
human rights violations. UHRC under its previous leadership
demonstrated significant independence on key human rights cases,
boosting its credibility with human rights groups and the general
public. With two commissioners returning and four well-qualified
replacements, we remain optimistic that the new commissioners will
continue efforts to strengthen the institution. Limited technical
personnel and financial resources, however, will likely continue to
hinder greater effectiveness. Undue political influence on the
commissioners, particularly in the run-up to the 2011 presidential
and parliamentary elections, is also of concern. Post will engage
the UHRC and the Government when necessary to stress the importance
of protecting the human rights body's mandate.
BROWNING