Ouganda: détention arbitraire de George Oundo et Kiiza Brendah et intimidation de plusieurs défenseurs des droits humains

Your Excellency,

I am deeply concerned following reports that human rights defenders George Oundo and Kiiza Brendah have been arbitrarily detained since 10 September 2008 and that Pepe Juliana Onziema, David Kato, Victor Julie Mukasa and Kasha Jacqueline have been subjected to intimidation by police and the authorities in Uganda. George Oundo and Kiiza Brendah work to promote and protect the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Uganda. Frank Mugisha, Pepe Juliana Onziema, and David Kato, Victor Julie Mukasa and Kasha Jacqueline are all active members of the organisation Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), Victor Julie Mukasa is also Research and Policy Associate at the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and Kasha Jacqueline is a member of Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG). All these organisations advocate for the rights of the LGBT community.

On 10 September 2008, police came to the home of George Oundo and arrested him along with Kiiza Brendah. The police also removed gay literature from the residence before taking the two human rights defenders to Nalukologolo Police Station where they spent the night. The following day, they were transferred to Nabweru Police Station where they are currently detained and interrogated about LGBT human rights defenders, their activities and organisations. It is not known if any charge has been brought against the two, as in the six days since their arrest, neither human rights defender has appeared before a court in accordance with the 48-hour constitutional limit on detention. George Oundo suffers from diabetes and there are fears that the two human rights defenders may be subjected to ill-treatment while in detention.

Reports indicate that the Ugandan authorities are also in possession of a list of members of the LGBT community, of which at least nineteen of those named are LGBT human rights defenders and which includes the aforementioned individuals. The list is currently being disseminated in local banks and the authorities are searching for these human rights defenders. It is believed that the bail which has been provisionally set for the two detained human rights defenders is contingent upon those named on the list presenting themselves to the police for questioning.

I believe that the aforementioned LGBT human rights defenders have been targeted as a result of their legitimate work in defence of human rights, in particular their work to promote and protect the rights of the LGBT community in Uganda. Front Line views the harassment and intimidation of the LGBT community in Uganda as deeply worrying and expresses its serious concern for the physical and psychological integrity of George Ounda and Kiiza Brendah during their detention, as well as that of all LGBT human rights defenders working to promote and protect the rights of their community in Uganda.

I call on the authorities in Uganda to:

1.Immediately release George Oundo and Kiiza Brendah and withdraw all charges against them as it is believed that these measures have been taken against them solely on account of their legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights;

2.Adopt measures to guarantee that the physical and psychological integrity of LGBT human rights defenders in Uganda is respected;

3.Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Uganda are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.

Yours sincerely,