President Museveni Finds Antidotes For Effective Human Rights Protection

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, of Uganda says the struggle for the effective enjoyment of human rights is affected by the effects of nature on man as well as man’s attitude towards man.

He said until man finds solution to the effects of nature on man characterised by floods, hurricanes, and other natural phenomena as well as man’s attitude towards man branded by dictatorship, violence, human rights violations, and others, the effective protection of human rights will not be attained.

President Museveni stated at the opening of the Judicial Dialogue in Kampala, Uganda organised by the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights which was on the theme: “Tackling Contemporary Human Rights Issues: the Role of the Judiciary in Africa”. The statement which has been made available to the media at Tema.

The Ugandan President noted that human rights are interdependent and should not be separated from reality, and that the judiciary should adopt a holistic approach in order to ensure the harmonious enjoyment of human rights.

President Museveni also highlighted the importance of the Judicial Dialogue for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa.

Justice Bart Magunda Katureebe, Chief Justice of Uganda, whilst expressing gratitude to the African Court for having entrusted Uganda with the opportunity to host the Dialogue affirmed Uganda’s commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights.

Justice Sylvain Oré African Court President recalled Uganda’s role in the promotion and protection of human rights on the continent and the strengthening of African institutions.

The African Court President called upon Uganda to further express this by depositing the declaration required under Article 34(6) of the Protocol establishing the African Continental Court.

Ambassador Kwesi Thomas Quartey, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, acknowledged that Africa faces a range of problems such as poverty, human rights violations, corruption, bad governance, among others.

He noted that the African Union has resolved under Agenda 2063, together with all actors, to create conditions to minimize the suffering of people in Africa, in particular, youth, women and children.

To this end, Ambassador Quartey highlighted initiatives aimed at creating conditions so that, within the framework of African integration, would ensure free movement in Africa and that Africans can easily produce and trade with each other.

Fraternal messages were delivered at plenary by representatives: the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, and the East African Court of Justice.

Others were the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the Court of Justice of the West African Economic and Monetary Union and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

The partners shared information on actions they have taken in relation to the subjects of the Dialogue and demonstrated their interest to cooperate with the relevant African institutions in strengthening the promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights in general, including in training, exchange of experiences and dissemination of good practices.

Judicial authorities from AU Member States represented at the Dialogue: Ghana, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eswatini, Ethiopia, and Gabon.

Others were; The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.