Human Rights Defenders decry hostile working environment in Albertine region
The Human Rights Defenders Day celebration at HB Hotel also featured a blood donation drive.
Hoima: Human rights defenders operating in the Albertine region have condemned the increasingly hostile environment they face while carrying out their duties.
The concerns were raised this morning during a press conference to mark the International Human Rights Defenders Day, held at HB Hotel.
Jenniffer Baitwamasa, the human rights focal person for the region under the Navigators of Development Association (NAVODA), said defenders continue to face arrests, intimidation, and prosecution while executing their mandate.
Nassar Biira Kiwanuka, the Executive Director of Recreation for Development Program (RDP) Uganda, echoed similar concerns, noting that “the life of a human rights defender in the Albertine region is hard.”
Defenders further highlighted ongoing human rights violations affecting communities, including forced land evictions, unfair and delayed compensation, and other forms of abuse.
Robert Kirenga, the Executive Director of the National Coalition for Human Rights Defenders Uganda, warned about the deteriorating human rights situation in the country and urged all stakeholders to ensure a safer working environment for activists.
Meanwhile, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Catherine Alupo, the Albertine Regional Police Legal Officer, encouraged human rights defenders to engage law enforcement whenever they witness police officers violating human rights.
Hoima Regional Human Rights Officer, Betty Enangu Nangoli, noted that land and environmental rights remain the most violated in the region, revealing that her office currently has a case log of nine.
The Human Rights Defenders Day celebration at HB Hotel also featured a blood donation drive.
Tomorrow marks the International Human Rights Day, with district-level celebrations scheduled to take place in Kyohairwe, Buhanika Sub-county in Hoima District.
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