Asked by: Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations she has made to the Government of Uganda in relation to repeated restrictions on the freedoms of Robert Kyagulanyi.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The restrictions placed on Robert Kyagulanyi both before and during the January 2021 elections were very concerning. It is unacceptable that this pattern has continued post-election, including his de facto house arrest in December 2021 during a by-election. The UK has continuously called for the Government of Uganda to stop using such restrictions. I raised our concerns regarding restrictions on the opposition and civic space with President Museveni and Foreign Minister Odongo during my visit to Uganda on 19 January 2022. I stressed the importance of respecting democratic freedoms and ensuring that Uganda meets its obligations under international human rights law. Our High Commission in Kampala engages with stakeholders across the Ugandan political spectrum, including Robert Kyagulanyi, to push for democratic reform. The UK will continue to work with all Ugandans to advocate for democratic freedoms and respect for human rights.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend an official invitation to visit the UK to Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, an opposition candidate in the January presidential election in Uganda.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Our High Commissioner to Uganda has met Robert Kyagulanyi on a number of occasions and discussed our concern over human rights and democratic reform. We will continue to meet with Robert Kyagulanyi, but Kampala is a more likely location.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Uganda about the detention of Bobi Wine.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Following the Presidential election results on 16 January 2021, the Minister for Africa set out in a statement our significant concerns about the overall political climate surrounding the elections and have urged the Government of Uganda to meet its international human rights commitments. The treatment of opposition figures post-election, including Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, is unacceptable and the Minister for Africa expressed these concerns in his tweet on 19 January 2021. HMG welcomes the High Court of Uganda's decision of 25 January that the detention of Kyagulanyi was unconstitutional and unlawful and that these restrictions have been lifted. The British High Commission Kampala pressed the Ugandan authorities to end these unacceptable restrictions on his liberty. Our High Commissioner in Kampala continues to meet political actors from all parties and met Robert Kyagulanyi on 27 January 2021. They discussed the political situation in Uganda, the restrictions to political freedoms before and after the elections and the concerns raised over electoral processes. The High Commissioner urged all parties to reject violence, engage in peaceful dialogue and follow due process to address any electoral irregularities. As a long-standing partner to Uganda, and a steadfast advocate for Ugandan democracy, the United Kingdom will continue to follow post-election developments closely.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the UK Government is taking to help ensure the safety of Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi after being placed under house arrest by Ugandan forces.
Answered by James Duddridge
GROUPED WITH PQS 145811 & 145812.
I [Minister Duddridge] spoke to the Ugandan Foreign Minister, Sam Kutesa, on 26 November 2020 to express concern about the arrest of Robert Kyagulanyi and the violence that followed. I [Minister Duddridge] sought reassurances that Ugandan security forces would show restraint and raised the importance of the rights of Ugandans to freely express their views. Ahead of the elections of 14 January, I [Minister Duddridge] raised the importance of British officials observing the vote in further calls with Foreign Minister Kutesa and with the Ugandan High Commissioner. The UK deployed 51 Election Observers across 120 polling stations in Uganda on election day.
I [Minister Duddridge] also publicly expressed my disappointment about the internet shutdown on 14 January and my concerns at reduced transparency of the elections. I have since set out our concerns, in a statement of 17 January, about the overall political climate surrounding the elections and have urged the Government of Uganda to meet its international human rights commitments. I [Minister Duddridge] welcome the High Court of Uganda's decision of 25 January 2021 lifting restrictions on Robert Kyagulanyi, and that the British High Commissioner was able to meet with him on 27 January 2021. As a long-standing partner to Uganda, the UK will continue to follow post-election developments closely, and engage with the Ugandan Government and Ugandans to advocate for democracy.
Asked by: Taiwo Owatemi (Labour - Coventry North West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he is having with his Ugandan counterpart on the home imprisonment of presidential candidate, Bobby Wine.
Answered by James Duddridge
I [Minister Duddridge] tweeted on 19 January about the treatment of Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, and our High Commissioner in Kampala pressed the Ugandan authorities to end these unacceptable restrictions on his liberty. I [Minister Duddridge] welcome the High Court of Uganda's decision of 25 January that the detention of Kyagulanyi was unconstitutional and unlawful and that these restrictions have been lifted. The British High Commissioner in Kampala continues to meet political actors from all parties and met Kyagulanyi on 27 January. They discussed the political situation in Uganda, the restrictions to political freedoms before and after the elections and the electoral process. The High Commissioner has urged all parties to reject violence, engage in peaceful dialogue and follow due process to address any electoral irregularities. As a long-standing partner to Uganda, and a steadfast advocate for Ugandan democracy, the UK will continue to follow post-election developments closely.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Uganda to secure the release from house arrest of Robert Kyagulanyi and his family.
Answered by James Duddridge
I welcome the High Court of Uganda's decision of 25 January that the detention of Robert Kyagulanyi was unconstitutional and unlawful and their order for security personnel to vacate his premises. The treatment of Robert Kyagulanyi has been unacceptable and I expressed my concerns about this in a tweet on 19 January. The British High Commission Kampala continues to press the Ugandan authorities to end all of these unacceptable restrictions on Robert Kyagulanyi's liberty.
Asked by: Paul Williams (Labour - Stockton South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Ugandan counterpart on the reported arrest of the Member of the Ugandan Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
Our High Commission in Kampala are aware of this incident and continue to monitor developments closely and raise concerns regarding Kyagulanyi's treatment with the Ugandan government. The UK supports freedom of expression as a fundamental human right and maintains that it is an essential quality of any functioning democracy. We regularly raise any concerns around civic and political issues directly with the Ugandan government