MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on political situation in Uganda
9.2.2021 - (2021/2545(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure
Michael Gahler, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, David McAllister, Antonio López‑Istúriz White, Paulo Rangel, Miriam Lexmann, Tomáš Zdechovský, Vladimír Bilčík, Inese Vaidere, Vangelis Meimarakis, Tomas Tobé, Christian Sagartz, Loránt Vincze, Magdalena Adamowicz, Janina Ochojska, Eva Maydell, Luděk Niedermayer, Lefteris Christoforou, Jiří Pospíšil, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Stanislav Polčák, Krzysztof Hetman, Stelios Kympouropoulos, Benoît Lutgen, Maria Walsh, Seán Kelly, Peter Pollák, Romana Tomc, Loucas Fourlas
on behalf of the PPE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0138/2021
B9‑0142/2021
European Parliament resolution on political situation in Uganda
The European Parliament,
− having regard to its previous resolutions on Uganda,
− having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
− having regard to the Cotonou Agreement,
− having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,
− having regard to the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
− having regard to the declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the elections in Uganda of 20 January 2021,
− having regard to the Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas, on 14 January 2021 Ugandan voters went to the polls to elect a president and members of parliament, and whereas President Museveni, who is in office for 35 years, despite huge reports of irregularities, was declared the winner of the presidential elections with allegedly 59% of the votes against opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, who received 35%,
B. whereas according to credible reports the election campaign was marred by widespread use of violence and the systematic crackdown on the political opposition, civil society actors, human rights defenders and journalists, including the use of lethal force by the police and military personnel on protesters, rioters and political opposition members,
C. whereas the increasing militarisation of the election campaign became particularly apparent on November 18 &19, when security forces clamped down on protestors who were demanding the release of the then detained presidential candidate Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), resulting in at least 54 deaths of protestors,
D. whereas opposition candidates during the campaign were subjected to police violence, in particular focused on Robert Kyagulanyi and supporters of his NUP party, who were shot at, teargassed, beaten and arbitrarily detained,
E. Whereas hundreds of NUP supporters have been abducted by security operatives during the campaign trail and an unclear number of them is still forcibly detained or missing,
F. whereas the government used the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext for repression during the election campaign,
G. whereas EP Sakharov fellow Nicholas Opiyo is among the victims of ongoing repression and was detained for one week and is currently released on bail after being violently manhandled by state security agents, on unsubstantiated and politically motivated charges,
H. whereas authorities in Uganda over the past years have increasingly targeted civil society organisations (CSOs), particularly those working on human rights and elections,
I. whereas during the election day the government ordered a total shut down of the internet, which lasted several days, and pursued an ongoing strategy to disable social media platforms and messaging services,
J. whereas the opposition candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who after the elections was put under a de-facto house arrest since security forces surrounded his house for 11 days and continues to be prevented from leaving his house despite the court ruling from January 25, has alleged widespread fraud and has filed a petition at the country’s highest court to challenge the re-election of Yoweri Museveni,
K. whereas international observer and electoral expert missions were largely absent from the polls after Ugandan authorities failed to accredit the missions, or implement recommendations from past missions,
L. whereas an increasingly anti-Western rhetoric has been present in the election campaign and statements by President Museveni,
M. whereas cooperation between Uganda and the EU, US and other countries is focused on development as well as security cooperation in the context of the UN peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM);
N. whereas Uganda has one of the world’s harshest laws against homosexuality and whereas discrimination and violence against LGBT+ people persists;
1. Underlines the fundamental importance of free and fair elections, which are a prerequisite for sustainable and long-term development, and in this spirit applauds the Ugandan people, in particular its youth, for their courage and enthusiasm for democracy demonstrated in this election campaign,
2. Expresses its severe concern about the state of democracy in Uganda and expresses its condolences and sympathy to all the victims of violence,
3. Condemns the increasing militarisation of politics and the electoral process, and strongly condemns the excessive use of force by the police and armed forces; calls therefore on the government to reverse the persistent use of lethal and excessive force by the security forces, arbitrary arrests and detention and attacks against opposition politicians and supporters, protesters, human rights defenders and journalists,
4. Demands that perpetrators of violence, in particular violence resulting in death, are held accountable and that victims are granted access to justice and effective remedies;
5. Calls on the Ugandan government to ensure justice and accountability for all victims by carrying out impartial, thorough and independent investigations into the shootings and violence perpetrated by security forces, and similarly calls on the Ugandan judiciary to objectively and independently apply the existing legislative framework and to take fully note of available facts and provided proof;
6. Highlights that all election challenges and complaints are to be addressed in an independent and transparent manner through the available constitutional and legal remedies,
7. Recalls the responsibility of the Ugandan government to adequately ensure a proper representation of all Ugandan people, and expresses concern about an increased tribalism inside the political sphere and in this light highlights that politics needs to be inclusive and truly representative,
8. Demands the government to stop using the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext for Ugandan law enforcement agencies to introduce policies that violate international law and roll back human rights guarantees, including unduly restricting the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,
9. Calls on the government to immediately and unconditionally release or drop all charges of all those arrested and detained solely for participating in peaceful political assembly or exercising their right to freedom of expression and association, and reminds the Government of Uganda to respect the freedom of expression and the right to peaceful and safe assembly, including the free movement of all political actors and their supporters, and denounces the ongoing crackdown on civil society, calls on the government to ensure that Mr. Opiyo’s rights to due process and fair trial are upheld to the highest standard.
10. Insist that an independent civil society, a free and plural media and access to information, are a vital component of any democracy, and signal that the systematic use of state repression and violence could fundamentally impact the EU’s future relationship with Uganda; welcomes and supports the work of international representatives inside Uganda and underlines the importance of their work;
11. Recommends increased scrutiny over Uganda’s fiscal management and transparency, including EU budget support and development cooperation;
12. Calls on all parties to refrain from any form of violence as well as from statements and actions that may incite violence; strongly criticises the harsh and outdated laws against homosexuality and calls for an urgent revision of the legislation, together with a strategy to combat discrimination and violence against LGBT+ people,
13. Reiterates the EU’s commitment and readiness to engage with the Ugandan authorities and assist with much-needed democratic and governance reforms, underlines however that the success of this cooperation largely depends on the willingness of the Ugandan side to actually implement those reforms; in this light expresses severe concern about the announcement by President Museveni to suspend the Democratic Governance Facility,
14. Remains concerned with the overall security situation in the region, and underlines in this regard the important work of AMISOM and underlines that its long term objectives will only be reached if all actors lead by example when it comes to the respect of the rule of law, fundamental rights and democratic principles,
15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the European External Action Service, and the Government and parliament of Uganda.