MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Uganda, the arrest of Parlimentarians from the opposition
11.9.2018 - (2018/2840(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Charles Tannock, Karol Karski, Urszula Krupa, Pirkko Ruohonen‑Lerner, Valdemar Tomaševski, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Jana Žitňanská, Ryszard Czarnecki, Monica Macovei, Ruža Tomašić, Branislav Škripek on behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0364/2018
B8‑0364/2018
European Parliament resolution on Uganda, the arrest of Parlimentarians from the opposition
The European Parliament,
- having regard to the Constitution of Uganda,
- having regard to the African Charter on Human and People‘s Rights,
- having regard to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance,
- having regard to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Uganda is a signatory,
- having regard to the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
- having regard to the 1985 United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
- having regard to the Cotonou Agreement,
- having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, guaranteeing human rights and fundamental freedoms and prohibiting discrimination,
- having regard to Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and Article 13 of the EC Treaty, which commit the EU, as well as the Member States, to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms and which provide means at European level to fight discrimination and human rights violations,
- having regard to the Joint Local Statement on the Arua Municipality by-election signed by the European Union Delegation, the Heads of Mission of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and UK, and the Heads of Mission of Norway and Iceland,
- having regard to Rules 135(5) and 123(4) of its Rules of Procedure.
A. whereas the by-elections held in north-western Uganda on 15 August 2018 were marked by violence;
B. whereas different opposition candidates such as Kassiano Wadri and Robert Kyagulanyi were elected in their respective municipalities;
C. whereas President Yoweri Museveni and Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, together with several other politicians campaigned in Arua on 13 August;
D. whereas the campaign of different opposition members, notably from Wadri and Kyagulanyi, sparked violent repression of security forces, the fatal shooting of Kyagulanyi’s driver and ended with the arrest of Kyagulanyi, Wadri and other opposition candidates; whereas Kyagulanyi was accused of possession of firearms;
E. whereas the court appearances have been harrowing, as many of those arrested appeared to have been mistreated in detention; whereas the government denies the accusations of mistreatment while in detention;
F. whereas, when the military charges were dropped by the military court, they were immediately replaced by charges of treason in civilian court;
G. whereas the detention and torture of Kyagulanyi sparked national condemnation, expressed by a section of Members of the Ugandan Parliament; whereas it also sparked international condemnation including the signing of an open letter to the Ugandan government by hundreds of musicians, artists, activists and politicians;
H. whereas Kyagulanyi was released on bail and was blocked from travelling to seek medical treatment; whereas after international outrage, Kyagulanyi was allowed to leave the country and is currently receiving medical treatment in the US;
1. Expresses its deep concern over the rise in human rights abuses and violence in Uganda, including the lack of political freedom and freedom of speech;
2. Expresses concern that violent oppression of the opposition could lead to a broader political crisis in the country;
3. Urges the government to respect the independence of the Parliament as an institution and the independence of the mandate of its Members;
4. Urges the Ugandan authorities to investigate the arrests and human right abuses that took place during the political campaign;
5. Reminds the authorities of Uganda of their international obligations to guarantee, protect and promote fundamental rights, including the civil and political rights of its citizens such as freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, as well as the rule of law and the handling of court cases, particularly the right to a fair and impartial trial;
6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the African Union, the Government and Parliament of Uganda, the UN Secretary General, the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the ACP Council.