Country Advice

Uganda – UGA38734 – Political system – Tribal kingdoms – Kabaka – Ethnic clubs – riots – Discrimination – Blacklists – Dowries 31 May 2011

1. Please provide a map of Uganda and an indication of the locations of and distances between the capital Kampala, Masaka, the River Sezibwa and the District.

Map 11 shows the locations and approximate distances between Masaka and Kampala, as well as Kampala and Kayunga. Also shown is the , which runs in a northerly direction from to . Map 22 places these locations in context within a map of Uganda.

Map 1

1 „Masaka Kampala Kayunga Sezibwa Uganda Zoom‟ 2005, University of Texas Libraries http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/uganda_rel_2005.jpg – Accessed 17 May 2011 – Attachment 1 2 „Masaka Kampala Kayunga Uganda‟ 2005, University of Texas Libraries http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/uganda_rel_2005.jpg – Accessed 17 May 2011 – Attachment 2

Page 1 of 14

Map 2

2. Please provide a brief background of the political, legal and civil systems and the relationship of the Ugandan government to the kingdoms of Uganda.

The arrival of Arab traders into Uganda‟s interior in the 1830s revealed several African kingdoms with well-developed political institutions dating back several centuries. These traders were followed in the 1860s by British explorers, and in the 1870s by Protestant and

Page 2 of 14 Catholic missionaries.3 Uganda became a British protectorate in 1894, achieved internal self- government in March 1962, and gained full independence within the Commonwealth in October of the same year. and three other tribal kingdoms were granted semi- autonomous rule within a federal system, and Buganda‟s kabaka (king) was elected Ugandan president in October 1963. The president was deposed in February 1966 by then Prime Minister Apollo , over the perceived issue of national unity versus Bugandan particularism. A constitution removing Buganda‟s autonomous status was ratified in April of that year, and when adopted in September 1967, the new republican constitution eliminated the special status of Buganda and the other kingdoms. Obote himself was overthrown in January 1971 while attending a Commonwealth meeting overseas. He was replaced by Major General , commander in chief of the army and air force, who suspended parts of the constitution, dissolved the National Assembly, and installed himself as president.4

In the wake of worldwide condemnation for atrocities against perceived opponents, the Amin regime was removed in an invasion by Tanzanian troops and exiled forces in . Former president Obote returned to Uganda in May 1980, and following disputed elections in December of that year, Obote regained his previous position as president. Former president Yusuf Lule, of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM), refused to accept the one seat the party had won. Lule formed the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and affiliated (NRA), and commenced a guerrilla campaign against Obote. Over the next five years, the NRA maintained strategic territory north of Kampala, as well as its traditional stronghold in the Banyankore-dominated southwest. Obote was again deposed in July 1985, and was replaced by a Military Council, which was ultimately overthrown by the NRA six months later, installing Yoweri Musevini as president.5

On coming to power in 1986, the NRM introduced „no-party‟ democracy, under which only one political organisation, the NRM, was recognised. Under the constitution of 1995, a unicameral parliament is the source of legislative power, with 276 members, 214 of whom are elected and 62 appointed. Executive power is held by the president, who is directly elected for a five-year term. In 1995, the government established a legal system based on both customary law and British common law; there is a court of appeal and a high court, both with judges appointed by the president.6 In July 2005, a referendum resulted in the adoption of a multiparty system of government, while in September of that year, the parliament altered the constitution to remove term limits for the president, enabling Musevini to contest the 2006 elections. Musevini again retained power in elections held in February 2011.7

The Ugandan government‟s recent relationship with the country‟s kingdoms has been one largely of political convenience. After taking power, Museveni started negotiating with to restore its kabaka, which was thought to be political repayment for the Baganda people‟s support for the NRA in the early 1980s. In July 1993, Ronald Mutebi was crowned kabaka, though the role was described as „purely ceremonial‟. This was followed by pro forma recognition for the coronation of Patrick Kaboyo as of the Toro kingdom, as

3 US Department of State 2011, „Background Note: Uganda‟, 2 March http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2963.htm – Accessed 18 May 2011 – Attachment 3 4 „Uganda‟ 2010, CQ Press Electronic Library, Political Handbook of the World Online Edition http://library.cqpress.com/phw/phw2010_Uganda – Accessed 4 June 2010 – Attachment 4 5 „Uganda‟ 2010, CQ Press Electronic Library, Political Handbook of the World Online Edition http://library.cqpress.com/phw/phw2010_Uganda – Accessed 4 June 2010 – Attachment 4 6 ‟ (Undated), Every Culture website http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Uganda.html – Accessed 18 May 2011 – Attachment 5 7 US Department of State 2011, „Background Note: Uganda‟, 2 March http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2963.htm – Accessed 18 May 2011 – Attachment 3

Page 3 of 14 well as the coronation of the tribe‟s Solon Gafabusa. In 1996, Henry Muloki was reinstalled as the Basoga‟s kyabazinga (king) at a ceremony attended by Museveni.8 While the constitution prevents cultural leaders from participating in politics, they continue to wield influence over their respective communities.9

3. Please advise how many ethnic groups there are in Uganda and the names of the dominant ethnic groups. Can you give a description of the importance of the cultural leader, the Kabaka, to the Ugandan people and/ or Buganda people?

According to the Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook 2011, the major ethnic groups in Uganda include: Baganda, 16.9%; Banyakole, 9.5%; Basoga, 8.4%; Bakiga, 6.9%; Iteso, 6.4%; Langi, 6.1%; Acholi, 4.7%; Bagisu, 4.6%; Lugbara, 4.2%; Bunyoro, 2.7%; and others totalling 29.6%.10

In the wake of the September 2009 Kampala riots (please refer to the response for Question 5), IRIN provided the following background information on some of the main kingdoms in Uganda.

 Baganda: the largest and most politically powerful ethnic community in Uganda, with an estimated five million people. During the colonial period, the British rewarded the kingdom for its collaboration by giving it territories belonging to the kingdom of Bunyoro. Buganda is located in the central region by Lake Victoria. Uganda‟s capital, Kampala, is also home to Mengo, the seat of the kabaka (king).

 Bunyoro: located in western Uganda next to , there are an estimated 700,000 people in the kingdom. Claiming to be the oldest East African kingdom, the Bunyoro opposed colonisation, which resulted in the loss of some of its territory. Ruled by an omukama, it is historically one of the most militarily powerful kingdoms, and possesses much of Uganda‟s recently discovered oil.

 Acholi: this northern Ugandan kingdom was traditionally organised into groups of clans ruled by a rwot, or paramount chief. An estimated two million Acholi have been displaced due to two decades of war between the government and separatist group the Lord‟s Resistance Army (LRA). The kingdom currently uses traditional Acholi justice mechanisms, such as mato oput, where an offender confesses to his crime and is absolved in the interests of peace and reconciliation.

: one of Uganda‟s oldest kingdoms, Busoga is located on the eastern shore of Lake Victoria. An estimated two million subjects are ruled by a kyabazinga.

 Toro: formerly part of Bunyoro, the Toro kingdom has about 800,000 subjects, and is ruled by an omukama. The kingdom has close ties with Libyan leader Muammar Ghaddafi, who was made defender of the Toro kingdom in 2001.

8 „Uganda‟ 2010, CQ Press Electronic Library, Political Handbook of the World Online Edition http://library.cqpress.com/phw/phw2010_Uganda – Accessed 4 June 2010 – Attachment 4 9 Human Rights Watch 2009, Uganda: Investigate Use of Lethal Force During Riots, 1 October http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/10/01/uganda-troops-killed-unarmed-people-riot-period?tr=y&auid=5408929 – Accessed 5 October 2009 – Attachment 6 10 CIA World Factbook 2011, Uganda, 28 April https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world- factbook/geos/ug.html – Accessed 18 May 2011 – Attachment 7

Page 4 of 14  Banyankore (aka Banyankole): located in south western Uganda, the Banyankore are ruled by an omugabe. The population of 2.3 million consists of two groups, the pastoralist Bahima minority, and the agriculturalist Bairu majority.11

According to the official Buganda Kingdom website, the kabaka is respected by all of the people in the kingdom, regardless of traditional tribal affiliations. The kabaka is the ostensible head of Buganda with both administrative and cultural duties, and as the head of a centralised system of governance, has absolute power. Over time, kabakas have delegated power to others, such as Prime Ministers, Cabinet, and county and village Chiefs.12 The Baganda people have been referred to as the „King‟s Men‟, due to the significance of the role of the kabaka in their political, social and cultural institutions. Before the abolition of Uganda‟s kingdoms in 1967, the Baganda were organised into a centralised, bureaucratised kingdom. Following the 1993 reinstatement of the kabakaship, however, the kabaka has only symbolic, ritual functions, with no real political power. Historically, the kabaka ruled over a hierarchy of chiefs who collected food and livestock as taxes, which were distributed throughout the hierarchy. All chiefs were direct political appointments under the kabaka, guaranteeing control over their loyalty to him. Commoners were required to lie face-down on the ground in his presence. While all Baganda currently participate in the Ugandan government system, the kingdom and associated institutions remain influential in the cultural practices and values of the Baganda.13

4. Are there any reports that would indicate that ethnic groups in Uganda are represented by clubs at universities? Are there any reports of the club that represents the Buganda being the Nkobazambogo club (also known as BANKOSA?) Are there any reports of the names of the leadership of this club at University or elsewhere during the period 2006 -2009? Is it possible to say approximately how many people are members of that organisation or how widely it operates?

Cultural associations – commonplace at Ugandan universities – ostensibly aim to promote unity and improve self-esteem, and to instruct tribal groups in the norms and customs of their respective cultures. According to The Observer, the purpose of establishing these organisations was not to encourage tribalism, despite accusations to the contrary.14 In July 2010, Professor Nyeko Penmogi, the vice chancellor of University, directed students and staff to refrain from forming tribal associations, claiming that such organisations did not add any value to intellectual development. Professor Penmogi believed the era of forming tribal associations in higher institutions of learning had passed, and the university community should instead be encouraged to focus on forming academic associations.15

In July 2009, reported that Uganda‟s youth were being encouraged to devote their efforts to learning and understanding their cultures. At a local high school ceremony for Nkobazambogo, an association for Bugandan youth, the Katikkiro (premier) of Buganda said

11 „Uganda: A rough guide to the country‟s kingdoms‟ 2009, IRIN News, 11 September http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=86107 – Accessed 19 May 2011 – Attachment 8 12 „Cultural Administration‟ 2011, Buganda Kingdom website http://www.buganda.or.ug/index.php/bugandas- heritage/cultural-administration – Accessed 19 May 2011 – Attachment 9 13 „Baganda‟ (Undated), Every Culture website http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Tajikistan-to- Zimbabwe/Baganda.html – Accessed 19 May 2011 – Attachment 10 14 „Are cultural associations relevant in universities?‟ 2010, The Observer, 29 August http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9870&Itemid=106 – Accessed 19 May 2011 – Attachment 11 15 „Gulu Varsity Bans Tribal Associations‟ 2010, All Africa website, source: The Monitor, 22 July http://allafrica.com/stories/201007220699.html – Accessed 19 May 2011 – Attachment 12

Page 5 of 14 that enrolling children in Nkobazambogo would “help to groom them with better moral values that will promote the good culture of Buganda”. The headmaster of the school believed that clubs such as Nkobazambogo united students from different backgrounds, and helped them to learn from each other. He also believed that these clubs promoted discipline and cultural values among students.16

Nkobazambogo was established on 4 August 1991, with the primary aim of mobilising and educating Buganda youth about the “norms and values of Buganda culture as a foundation for social, political and economic developments”. Known by the acronym BANKOSA (Baganda Nkobazambogo Students Association), the organisation includes students from tertiary institutions, secondary schools and primary schools. BANKOSA claims to be non-political, in that it “hardly supports any political party in the world”, though the organisation acknowledges that for some non-members, the group may be misconstrued as a political party. BANKOSA maintains that it is a non-profit organisation, and that its leadership is strictly voluntary.17

Despite the above claims, there are competing views as to the actual role played by Nkobazambogo. The Monitor reported that in the days before the September 2009 Kampala riots, the royal palace was preparing an “army of Nkobazambogo youth to guard Kabaka Ronald Mutebi during his tour of ”. According to a Nkobazambogo representative, the „army‟ would be in Kayunga to protect the kabaka against any intrusion by the ; however, the force would be unarmed, and would not seek to provoke any violence.18 In an article published a week later following the first day of rioting in Kampala, The Monitor referred to Nkobazambogo as “Buganda youth vigilantes”, who temporarily gained control of Kayunga from heavily-armed police. A Nkobazambogo spokesperson reportedly said that they were “fighting the government, not Banyala…[w]e actually want our king to visit us”.19

No information was located regarding the existence of BANKOSA at Uganda Martyrs University. According to the BANKOSA website, the organisation has representation at the following educational institutions:

 Universities: Muteesa 1 Royal University; Kampala International University; Kampala University; ; Business School; Kyambogo University; and Makerere University.20

 Tertiary Institutions: Bukalasa Agricultural College; Kyobe Medical Laboratory School; Kichwamba Technical College – Kabarole District; School of Clinical and Community Health – Fortportal; Jinja School of Nursing; Mulago Paramedical Schools;

16 „Don‟t Corrupt , Youth Told‟ 2009, All Africa website, source: New Vision, 22 July http://allafrica.com/stories/200907230440.html – Accessed 19 May 2011 – Attachment 13 17 „Nkobazambogo About Us‟ 2010, Nkobazambogo website, 17 December http://nkobazambogo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=28 – Accessed 19 May 2011 – Attachment 14 18 „Nkobazambogo to Guard Kabaka During Visit to Kayunga‟ 2009, All Africa website, source: The Monitor, 4 September http://allafrica.com/stories/200909040470.html – Accessed 19 May 2011 – Attachment 15 19 „Kayunga Becomes Battle Field As Youths Take On Cops‟ 2009, All Africa website, source: The Monitor, 10 September http://allafrica.com/stories/200909100402.html – Accessed 19 May 2011 – Attachment 16 20 „University‟ 2010, Nkobazambogo website, 17 December http://nkobazambogo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=57 – Accessed 19 May 2011 – Attachment 17

Page 6 of 14 Nsamizi Institute of Social Works and Administration; Nakawa Vocational Training Institute; and Datamine Technical Business School.21

 Secondary Schools: Bweyogere Progressive SSS; Nakaseke International College; Makerere SSS; Masaka SSS; Masaka Town College; Sumayah High School; Kings College Buddo; Buddo SSS; Mugongo SSS – Kyengera; Kawempe High School; Kawempe Muslim; Makerere College; Kyambogo College; Emirates High School; Excel SSS – Kawaala; SSS; Hawa High SSS; Mbogo High School; Kinaawa High School – Kyengera; Lubiri SSS; Lubiri High School; and Wampeewo Ntakke SSS.22

Please note that the BANKOSA website may not be up-to-date, or may not be a comprehensive list of every institution in which the organisation maintains a presence. Also, the page purporting to list primary schools with BANKOSA representation was „under construction‟ at the time of writing.

No information was located regarding BANKOSA leadership specifically between 2006 and 2009. According to the BANKOSA website, the organisation has produced leaders such as:

Dr. Abed Bwanika the first chairperson Makerere University where it started from, with Professor Livingstone Walusimbi as the patron, Micheal Kawooya Gen. Manager CBS, Mr. Robert Kasozi, Mr. Kiwalabye Male, Hon. Rose Namayanja, Hon. Dr. Lulume Bayiga, Mr. Simeo Nsubuga, Oweek, Charles Peter Mayiga, Oweek. Ssegona, Oweek. Mathias Mpuuga, Oweek. Kabuuza Mukasa among other unmentioned useful personalities.23

It could not be determined whether these individuals were in fact BANKOSA leaders, or if they became leaders in their respective fields following their involvement in the organisation.

No information was located regarding BANKOSA membership figures, or the extent to which it operates, although the number of educational institutions documented above suggests that the organisation is well established across Baganda.

5. Please give a brief background of the riots that broke out in Kampala in September 2009. Are there any reports that the government blamed the Bugandan people associated with the Buganda Youth Day celebrations for the ensuing riots or that student leaders or members of the Nkobazambogo club were targeted for arrest or harm by the authorities following the riots? If not, are there any reports of the backgrounds of people reported to be arrested after the September 2009 riots or the reasons for their arrest?

On 10-11 September 2009, more than 20 people were killed in violent clashes between Bugandan protestors and government security forces in the capital city Kampala.24 According to Human Rights Watch, at least 13 of those shot were in situations where lethal force was not

21 „Tertiary Institutions‟ 2010, Nkobazambogo website, 17 December http://nkobazambogo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=58 – Accessed 19 May 2011 – Attachment 18 22 „Secondary Schools‟ 2010, Nkobazambogo website, 17 December http://nkobazambogo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45&Itemid=56 – Accessed 19 May 2011 – Attachment 19 23 „Nkobazambogo About Us‟ 2010, Nkobazambogo website, 17 December http://nkobazambogo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=28 – Accessed 19 May 2011 – Attachment 14 24 „Landmark royal meeting in Uganda‟ 2009, BBC News, 30 September http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8283588.stm – Accessed 1 October 2009 – Attachment 20

Page 7 of 14 necessary. The riots began when police blocked a delegation representing the Buganda kingdom from visiting Kayunga district, ahead of a planned visit two days later by the kabaka. The visit was opposed by leaders of the Banyala in the region, who do not acknowledge the authority of the kabaka.25

The riots forced a cordoning-off of Kayunga for approximately two hours while police attempted to reclaim control after Buganda youth overpowered the town. Banks, shops and petrol stations were forced to close as the Buganda threw rocks and tree branches at police, who in turn responded with tear gas. The police were over-run, and forced to take refuge outside the town as they awaited reinforcements.26 Cars and police stations were set on fire, and looting was widespread. In response, President Museveni sent thousands of police and troops into Kayunga, who, reportedly with orders to shoot on sight, fired live rounds into the crowds.27

An article published in The Economist suggests the violence reflected the tension between Bugandan authorities and the Ugandan government over access to land and Bugandan demands for greater autonomy. Buganda viewed proposed government land bills as a scheme to gain control of the region‟s resources, though the government argued that the proposals would merely improve land security. Prior to the riots, the kabaka had been calling for the re- introduction of „federo‟, a system in which the kingdom would have the ability to raise its own resources, tax its subjects and reduce its reliance on the government. The Economist claimed that while the riots were partly a display of Buganda strength, they were also a result of Bugandan “fear of the secessionist desires of districts such as Kayunga, which would diminish the kingdom‟s influence and reduce its overall power if federo was restored”.28

According to Time, President Museveni‟s recent efforts to retain power, such as abolishing presidential term limits and imprisoning opposition leaders, narrowed the avenues in which Ugandans could express dissent. As a result, Ugandan people were re-embracing tribal allegiances in order to channel their discontent, which may account for the disproportionate response by Museveni‟s security apparatus.29

While no reports were found where the government specifically blamed Nkobazambogo or Youth Day attendees for the riots, examples were found of the media making such accusations. Please refer to the response to Question 4 for further information on this.

According to a police spokesperson, in excess of 550 arrests were made following the riots, the majority being those who were directly involved in the riots and the ringleaders.30 According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), in the days after the unrest, police conducted

25 Human Rights Watch 2009, Uganda: Investigate Use of Lethal Force During Riots, 1 October http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/10/01/uganda-troops-killed-unarmed-people-riot-period?tr=y&auid=5408929 – Accessed 5 October 2009 – Attachment 6 26 „Kayunga Becomes Battle Field As Youths Take On Cops‟ 2009, All Africa website, source: The Monitor, 10 September http://allafrica.com/stories/200909100402.html – Accessed 19 May 2011 – Attachment 16 27 Delany, M. 2009, „Riots in Uganda: A Sign of Things to Come?‟, Time, 17 September http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1924258,00.html – Accessed 2 October 2009 – Attachment 21 28 „Kingdom come‟ 2009, The Economist Intelligence Unit, 16 September http://www.economist.com/agenda/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14442349 – Accessed 1 October 2009 – Attachment 22 29 Delany, M. 2009, „Riots in Uganda: A Sign of Things to Come?‟, Time, 17 September http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1924258,00.html – Accessed 2 October 2009 – Attachment 21 30 „Deadly riots lead to over 550 arrests‟ 2009, France 24 News, 13 September http://www.france24.com/en/20090913-uganda-kampala-buganda-riot-africa-police?quicktabs_1=1 – Accessed 26 May 2011 – Attachment 23

Page 8 of 14 “brutal mass arrests of hundreds of young men, beating alleged riot suspects”. The government charged 31 people for terrorism offences, 23 of whom remained in gaol awaiting trial 12 months later. An estimated 80 others were released on bail, facing charges such as inciting violence and participating in a riot.31 No information was located on the backgrounds of specific individuals who were arrested following the riots.

6. Are there any reports of Bugandan businesses being closed down or otherwise discriminated against by the authorities?

According to the United States Department of State (USDOS), Ugandan law “prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, disability, language, or social status; however, the government did not enforce the law in matters of locally or culturally prevalent discrimination against women, children, persons with disabilities, or certain ethnic groups”.32

Despite this, Time reported that during the 2009 Kampala riots (please refer to the response for Question 5), four radio stations were reportedly taken off the air for „inciting violence‟, and a leading talk-show host was arrested due to accusations of sedition.33 The closure of radio stations was further examined by Amnesty International, who said that following the riots, “the Broadcasting Council – a government body mandated to control broadcast content – arbitrarily ordered the closure of four radio stations…reportedly over failures before and during the riots to comply with the minimum broadcasting standards”. According to Amnesty, the stations were not given adequate notice of the closures, explanations for them, or an opportunity to appeal.34

An article published by The Monitor in March 2010 reported that the newly-elected president general of the Democratic Party, Norbert Mao, criticised President Museveni for closing Buganda kingdom‟s Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) Radio, and demanded that it be re- opened. He also criticised Museveni for “personalising” Buganda issues, and said issues such as the Media Council should have resolved the matter. According to Mao, “[i]t is clear that he wants to destroy the kingdom by denying it a voice and revenue…[h]e wants to frustrate the kingdom‟s efforts to grant school bursaries…[i]f it was the issue of people abusing him using the radio, why didn‟t he deal with those people as individuals?”35 Employees of CBS Radio claimed that while the station was used to mobilise people to attend a function in Kayunga for the kabaka, it was not used to promote violence.36

According to The Observer, CBS Radio was re-opened in October 2010, more than 12 months after it had been closed by the Museveni government. The decision was made two

31 Human Rights Watch 2010, Uganda: Investigate 2009 Kampala Riot Killings, Human Rights Watch website, 10 September http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/09/10/uganda-investigate-2009-kampala-riot-killings – Accessed 26 May 2011 – Attachment 24 32 US Department of State 2011, Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2010 – Uganda, 8 April, Section 6 – Attachment 25 33 Delany, M. 2009, „Riots in Uganda: A Sign of Things to Come?‟, Time, 17 September http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1924258,00.html – Accessed 2 October 2009 – Attachment 21 34 Amnesty International 2010, Amnesty International Annual Report 2010 – Uganda, 28 May – Attachment 26 35 „Mao attacks Museveni over Buganda radio closure‟ 2010, The Monitor, 9 March http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/875502/-/wj7gml/-/index.html – Accessed 23 May 2011 – Attachment 27 36 „CBS staff defend radio on Buganda riots‟ 2010, New Vision website, 9 March http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/712420 – Accessed 23 May 2011 – Attachment 28

Page 9 of 14 days before the presidential nominations, and was seen by some analysts as a move by the NRM to repair relations with Buganda ahead of the 2011 elections.37

7. Are there any reports of the Ugandan authorities keeping blacklists or similar with an aim of preventing identified people from leaving the country?

No information was located specifically referring to blacklists aimed at preventing individuals leaving Uganda, although there have been apparently isolated instances in which the government has sought to restrict the travel of certain public figures, such as politicians and businessmen, in response to specific incidents.

In September 2010, Voices Against Corruption reported that the Ugandan Revenue Authority (URA) had asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to bar Ugandan tycoon Mike Ezra from travelling abroad until he paid an alleged 1.1 billion shillings in owed back-taxes. Ezra claimed that while a travel ban may exist, he was not aware of it, and had only found out about it through the media.38

In March 2010, The Monitor reported that according to the Members of Parliament‟s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), a group of cabinet ministers who had supervised projects as part of the November 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) should not be allowed to travel abroad until they had accounted for the funds at their disposal. The committee also demanded that the ministers‟ passports be impounded, and called for “donor countries to blacklist the officials and deny them entry permits and visas”. The calls to block the ministers‟ travel reportedly came after three ministers did not attend scheduled PAC hearings, claiming they were busy and had to travel out of the country.39

8. Are there any reports that would indicate that if a woman’s uncle (and carer) arranged her marriage, he would receive a dowry?

While no specific information was found regarding whether an uncle would receive a dowry if he were to arrange a marriage for his niece, it is plausible that this may occur in the absence of a father or mother. A November 2010 article published in The Observer reported on a university graduate who had moved in to her uncle‟s house in order to be located in close proximity to her new workplace. The uncle reportedly asked when he was meeting his son-in- law, to which the niece replied she was not in a relationship. The uncle then responded “[d]o you want to deny me chicken,” and set about trying to arrange a marriage for his niece.40 While no further detail was provided, it is noteworthy that the uncle was involved in actively seeking to arrange a marriage. It is conceivable that he used the term „chicken‟ as a reference to a dowry.

In February 2011, Africa News reported that traditional marriage remains a common practice in most parts of Africa, including Uganda. The Baganda community, in particular, is thought

37 „CBS Radio re-opened!‟ 2010, The Observer, 23 October http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10615:cbs-radio-re- opened&catid=78:topstories&Itemid=59 – Accessed 23 May 2011 – Attachment 29 38 „Controversial Ugandan tycoon flashes $3m at Journalists‟ 2010, Voices Against Corruption website, 3 September http://voices-against-corruption.ning.com/profiles/blogs/controversial-ugandan-tycoon – Accessed 23 May 2011 – Attachment 30 39 „Top Ministers Face Foreign Travel Ban‟ 2010, All Africa website, source: The Monitor, 10 March http://allafrica.com/stories/201003100496.html – Accessed 17 May 2011 – Attachment 31 40 „Arranged marriages slowly creeping in‟ 2010, The Observer, 24 November http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11051&Itemid=70 – Accessed 25 May 2011 – Attachment 32

Page 10 of 14 to take marriage very seriously. The Baganda kwanjula (introduction) ceremony, where the prospective husband is introduced to his future in-laws, is taken as the official marriage once the suitor is accepted. The bride price is usually paid at a kwanjula, which may consist of traditional dress for both male and female family members, food, and an agreed sum of money. The central participants in the kwanjula are the paternal aunt, who is supposed to be knowledgeable about both the nature of the relationship and the suitor‟s family and background, and intermediaries, who speak for both families during the ceremony.41

According to Afrik News, in October 2010 the Ugandan Supreme Court rejected an NGO appeal against dowries, and ruled that „bride price‟ must stay, as it was “in line with African norms, virtue and traditions”. The court had previously dismissed an application seeking a declaration on the constitutionality of bride price on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence linking the practice to domestic violence. The judges also noted that the practice was defined differently by different cultures, and in some cultures it was seen as a token of appreciation. The NGO had argued that bride price forces women to remain trapped in violent relationships as their parents could not take them back without refunding the dowry.42

In March 2010, Acholi traditional chiefs and elders reportedly rejected a proposal by women‟s rights activists to make the payment of a dowry optional. The Acholi leaders argued that by making the payment of a dowry optional, the implication followed that their culture was also optional. According to an Acholi elder, the payment of a dowry was a symbol of the spiritual offer made by an intending husband, and bound the man with his parents-in-law. The presiding judge believed the proposal was aimed at reinforcing positive cultural practices that promoted women‟s rights, saying that “[t]hose cultural practices that are not consistent with the human rights norms are modified or rejected in order to create an enabling environment for the exercise and enforcement of women‟s rights in the Acholi community”.43

41 „Traditional marriage in Uganda‟ 2011, Africa News, 9 February http://www.africanews.com/site/traditional_marriage_in_uganda/list_messages/37369 – Accessed 17 May 2011 – Attachment 33 42 „Uganda court says dowry for brides is legal‟ 2010, Afrik News, 11 October http://www.afrik- news.com/article18370.html – Accessed 16 May 2011 – Attachment 34 43 „Dowry is Not Optional, Say Acholi Chiefs‟ 2010, All Africa website, source: New Vision, 14 March http://allafrica.com/stories/201003151336.html – Accessed 16 May 2011 – Attachment 35

Page 11 of 14 Attachments

1. „Masaka Kampala Kayunga Sezibwa Uganda Zoom‟ 2005, University of Texas Libraries http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/uganda_rel_2005.jpg – Accessed 17 May 2011.

2. „Masaka Kampala Kayunga Uganda‟ 2005, University of Texas Libraries http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/uganda_rel_2005.jpg – Accessed 17 May 2011.

3. US Department of State 2011, „Background Note: Uganda‟, 2 March http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2963.htm – Accessed 18 May 2011.

4. „Uganda‟ 2010, CQ Press Electronic Library, Political Handbook of the World Online Edition http://library.cqpress.com/phw/phw2010_Uganda – Accessed 4 June 2010.

5. „Culture of Uganda‟ (Undated), Every Culture website http://www.everyculture.com/To- Z/Uganda.html – Accessed 18 May 2011.

6. Human Rights Watch 2009, Uganda: Investigate Use of Lethal Force During Riots, 1 October http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/10/01/uganda-troops-killed-unarmed-people-riot- period?tr=y&auid=5408929 – Accessed 5 October 2009.

7. CIA World Factbook 2011, Uganda, 28 April https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the- world-factbook/geos/ug.html – Accessed 18 May 2011.

8. „Uganda: A rough guide to the country‟s kingdoms‟ 2009, IRIN News, 11 September http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=86107 – Accessed 19 May 2011.

9. „Cultural Administration‟ 2011, Buganda Kingdom website http://www.buganda.or.ug/index.php/bugandas-heritage/cultural-administration – Accessed 19 May 2011.

10. „Baganda‟ (Undated), Every Culture website http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Tajikistan-to- Zimbabwe/Baganda.html – Accessed 19 May 2011.

11. „Are cultural associations relevant in universities?‟ 2010, The Observer, 29 August http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9870&Itemid=106 – Accessed 19 May 2011.

12. „Gulu Varsity Bans Tribal Associations‟ 2010, All Africa website, source: The Monitor, 22 July http://allafrica.com/stories/201007220699.html – Accessed 19 May 2011.

13. „Don‟t Corrupt Luganda, Youth Told‟ 2009, All Africa website, source: New Vision, 22 July http://allafrica.com/stories/200907230440.html – Accessed 19 May 2011.

14. „Nkobazambogo About Us‟ 2010, Nkobazambogo website, 17 December http://nkobazambogo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=28 – Accessed 19 May 2011.

15. „Nkobazambogo to Guard Kabaka During Visit to Kayunga‟ 2009, All Africa website, source: The Monitor, 4 September http://allafrica.com/stories/200909040470.html – Accessed 19 May 2011.e

Page 12 of 14 16. „Kayunga Becomes Battle Field As Youths Take On Cops‟ 2009, All Africa website, source: The Monitor, 10 September http://allafrica.com/stories/200909100402.html – Accessed 19 May 2011.

17. „University‟ 2010, Nkobazambogo website, 17 December http://nkobazambogo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=57 – Accessed 19 May 2011.

18. „Tertiary Institutions‟ 2010, Nkobazambogo website, 17 December http://nkobazambogo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=58 – Accessed 19 May 2011.

19. „Secondary Schools‟ 2010, Nkobazambogo website, 17 December http://nkobazambogo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45&Itemid=56 – Accessed 19 May 2011.

20. „Landmark royal meeting in Uganda‟ 2009, BBC News, 30 September http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8283588.stm – Accessed 1 October 2009.

21. Delany, M. 2009, „Riots in Uganda: A Sign of Things to Come?, Time, 17 September http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1924258,00.html – Accessed 2 October 2009.

22. „Kingdom come‟ 2009, The Economist Intelligence Unit, 16 September http://www.economist.com/agenda/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14442349 – Accessed 1 October 2009.

23. „Deadly riots lead to over 550 arrests‟ 2009, France 24 News, 13 September http://www.france24.com/en/20090913-uganda-kampala-buganda-riot-africa- police?quicktabs_1=1 – Accessed 26 May 2011.

24. Human Rights Watch 2010, Uganda: Investigate 2009 Kampala Riot Killings, Human Rights Watch website, 10 September http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/09/10/uganda-investigate- 2009-kampala-riot-killings – Accessed 26 May 2011.

25. US Department of State 2011, Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2010 – Uganda, 8 April, Section 6.

26. Amnesty International 2010, Amnesty International Annual Report 2010 – Uganda, 28 May.

27. „Mao attacks Museveni over Buganda radio closure‟ 2010, The Monitor, 9 March http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/875502/-/wj7gml/-/index.html – Accessed 23 May 2011.

28. „CBS staff defend radio on Buganda riots‟ 2010, New Vision website, 9 March http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/712420 – Accessed 23 May 2011.

29. „CBS Radio re-opened!‟ 2010, The Observer, 23 October http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10615:cbs-radio- re-opened&catid=78:topstories&Itemid=59 – Accessed 23 May 2011.

30. „Controversial Ugandan tycoon flashes $3m at Journalists‟ 2010, Voices Against Corruption website, 3 September http://voices-against-corruption.ning.com/profiles/blogs/controversial- ugandan-tycoon – Accessed 23 May 2011.

Page 13 of 14 31. „Top Ministers Face Foreign Travel Ban‟ 2010, All Africa website, source: The Monitor, 10 March http://allafrica.com/stories/201003100496.html – Accessed 17 May 2011.

32. „Arranged marriages slowly creeping in‟ 2010, The Observer, 24 November http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11051&Itemid=70 – Accessed 25 May 2011.

33. „Traditional marriage in Uganda‟ 2011, Africa News, 9 February http://www.africanews.com/site/traditional_marriage_in_uganda/list_messages/37369 – Accessed 17 May 2011.

34. „Uganda court says dowry for brides is legal‟ 2010, Afrik News, 11 October http://www.afrik- news.com/article18370.html – Accessed 16 May 2011.

35. „Dowry is Not Optional, Say Acholi Chiefs‟ 2010, All Africa website, source: New Vision, 14 March http://allafrica.com/stories/201003151336.html – Accessed 16 May 2011.

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