One of the winners (L) receiving his award from N9nister Kanyike (C) and UHRC boss Irumba Amooti
Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has awarded over 8 university student for participating in the human right essay competition that was conducted on various topics including police brutality, respecting human rights for all individuals and groups of people among others.
This was done in commemoration of this year’s human rights day.
The best winners in the female competition include Akampulira Abaho Angella as number one followed by Nyangoma Fiona, Masiga Maria and Laoolo Rachael while the Male counterparts include Otelu Joel, followed by Donald Okiringi, Dominic Adba and George Baluku.
During the award ceremony held at Mestil Hotel on Thursday 10th December 2020, the State Minister for Disability and Elderly Affairs, in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Sarah Kanyike said that there is need to reflect on the human rights situation in Uganda especially during this COVID-19 pandemic and the election period, which she said requires evaluation of the human right standards to ensure peace and harmony.
She said that respecting human rights is a responsibility of every citizen.
She noted that where mistakes happen appropriate measures should be taken.
“Citizens are duty bound to enjoy their human rights as long as they don’t interfere in the human rights of others. Where violence is detected, civil and legal measures must be exercised to avoid acting otherwise,” Kanyike said.
She said that because Uganda is a signatory to many local and international human right instruments, the government put up measure to ensure human rights are upheld through human rights based approaches including observation of human rights with the establishment of The Humana Rights Commission, inclusion of social development issues in the National Development Plan III, advocating for human rights through activities like the 16 days of activism, development of the national action in business and human rights among others.
The Acting Chairman, UHRC Irumba Amooti said that in order to observe human rights in Uganda, there is need to raise awareness through synergies in advocating for human rights by duty bearers to ensure peaceful national programmes including general elections.
By Drake Nyamugabwa
Its not Laoolo rather Lapolo for one of the participants