By Jacqueline Twemanye

On an eventful Thursday evening of 7th November 2019, Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) had its 10 years’ celebrations at Sheraton Kampala Hotel in a memorable event for not only making 10 years of existence but for emerging as a key player in the field of advancing human rights and social justice in health; with a reputation for using bold strategies to realize and expand the right to health.

Clearly this milestone could not have been achieved overnight, it has taken 10 years of persistence, hard work, focus, determination and a clear vision to come this far in pursuit for justice in the health sector. This is backed by Prof. Joe Oloka Onyango, the day’s Keynote speakers’ description of CEHURD as “a vibrant, vivacious and vigorous organisation”.

For years, CEHURD has trodden dusty roads to reach far-end vulnerable communities as well as high-end policy making levels driven by a passion to bridge health gaps.

“What inspired me to embark on this journey was my Mother-a retired nurse and the challenges she went through while practicing, secondly the people who were of great influence in my walk of life and lastly the question of how Lawyers could use the constitutional language to demand for an improved health system” – Mr. Mulumba Moses, Executive Director CEHURD.

It is of no wonder that CEHURD has transformed the advocacy environment around the right to health, communities have become more aware of their right to a proper health care system and in turn demand for it. CEHURD not only deals in legal practice but also translates the theoretical and conceptual health issues into research and advocacy.

“I do not take the 10 years of CEHURD for granted, when two of my former students came to my office and said they had started an organisation aimed at promoting the right to health and human rights, as a founding teacher of Health & the Law and Health law and Policy at Makerere University, I was excited.” – Prof. Ben Twinomugisha, Board Chairperson CEHURD.                                                                                

It was on this day (7th November), that CEHURD launched its Strategic Plan (2020-2024) –Rebound | Innovate | Sustain, which is a compass to the five years ahead.

“It is not only a celebration for the past, it is a celebration for the future now that the strategic plan has been launched. We very much look forward to working closely with CEHURD in these coming years especially in areas of Sexual Reproductive Health Rights” –Mr. Ola Hallgren, Head of Cooperation Embassy of Sweden.

Congratulations CEHURD! To more years of impactful existence.

The Writer is a Communications Officer at the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD).

An article in the daily monitor on Friday 23rd August 2019 by Honourable Michael Bukenya Iga articulating the role of investing in young people and the relevant policies.

What a shame! Stealing from the sick? – Nakibuuka Noor Musisi

On the evening of June 17^th 2019, I fell short of words. For the first time I watched television past 11:00pm. It was a shocker watching what I refer to as “a well-planned game” happening in my country, moreover in the health sector. I thought to myself, who is behind this, why steal from the sick? All these questions and thoughts ran in my mind. I waited to get responses from the video in vain. What a shame!

Efforts to put an end to this vice have been watered down by the government’s non responsive attitude towards clear evidence like the famous NBS /BBC video titled “stealing from the sick” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d41_BaVygQI.  It is unfortunate that Uganda has shamelessly remained silent over this the ordeal, an indicator, in my opinion that the State has failed to account back to its citizens.

I have worked in the civil society health – human rights sector for close to 10 years. Throughout these years, I have interacted with various civil society organizations, government entities, private actors and development partners among others. These have had various approaches towards ensuring that the end beneficiary whom I will refer to as a rights holder does access better health care services wherever they are. The approaches used have been budget advocacy, trainings, human rights-based approach empowerment of communities to seek services, holding district health assemblies, talk shows, community dialogues, community score cards to mention but a few. While these approaches seem diverse, they all point to ensuring that service provision gets better, that you and I enjoy health care in this country.

On several occasions, and for this particular ordeal, social media has been used by people to express their dissatisfaction.  It is such a powerful tool that information does not only reach a wider part of society (nationally and globally) but the target people. I am very certain that the leadership in this country did view, read and analyse the video as well as reactions from people. My expectation was that the state would act. Unfortunately, to date, we have not received a formal communication from the government on what happened and why. What this means to me is that the state has breached the contract it has with its citizen- the social contract. What a shame!

Like any other citizen, and as a health service user as well as a rights holder, my so many questions have never been answered. I am hesitant to conclude that sections/ agents within the government are involved in stealing our medicine- we the sick. What a shame! Again, one would be hesitant to question why the investigative team was rather stopped (the video is not complete), put under police custody and no case has ever been opened against them.

These happenings have a very huge impact to the health sector now and in the years to come. I am certain that Uganda has all the expertise, resources and tools to put these vices to an end. It is very unfortunate that as a country we are silent yet health facilities have continued to deteriorate at the expense of these few people. Shame my beloved country, shame my government, shame, shame shame!!!. There is still room for improvement, something can always be done and this call goes out to the State to act.

The writer is a human rights advocate and a lawyer at the center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD).

Public shaming of women; an issue of Violence against Women!

On the evening of 11^th July 2019, the public was startled by a confrontational sermon by Pastor Bugingo of House of prayers ministries that went viral on different social media platforms. In the sermon, the renowned pastor shamed his ex-wife and mother of his children over a disease she had had for close to ten years while the congregation cheered on. This unfortunately is a buildup on many other stories that are left in passing and continue to be normalized in Uganda today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Violence against Women (VAW) as any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.  Violence against Women takes different forms including; Intimate partner violence which may be physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; forced and early marriages; female genital mutilation and trafficking. In Uganda today, Violence against Women is reported as remaining on the high with more than 51 percent of women experiencing physical violence where intimate partners are reported as the largest number of perpetuators at 60 percent (Uganda Demographic and Health Survey of 2016 reported).

While different players are key in fighting the vice of public shaming of women, the state has the obligation to protect women from these violations as indicated under section 128 (3) of the Penal Code Act, Cap 120 that clearly stipulates  that “any person who, intending to insult the modesty of any woman or girl, utters any word, makes any sound or gesture or exhibits any object, intending that such word or sound shall be heard, or that such gesture or object shall be seen by such woman or girl, or intrudes upon the privacy of such woman or girl, commits a misdemeanor and is liable to imprisonment for one year.” Furthermore, section 179 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 120 states that “any person who by print, writing, painting, effigy or by any means otherwise than solely by gestures, spoken words or other sounds, unlawfully punishes any defamatory matter concerning another person, with intent to defame that other person, commits the misdemeanor termed libel.”

Public shaming of women can never become the new normal as it’s not only a violation of human rights but also has grave effects on survivors (psychological consequences, vulnerabilities to diseases), children (injuries to children) and society (added health care costs).  

Joselyn Nakyeyune

Program Officer, Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD).