{UAH} INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR RIGHT TO THE TRUTH.

Today March 24th is the UN International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims.

In Uganda, the truth still needs to be established in a national process that reviews all violence starting from colonialism upto the Kasese Massacre of 27th November 2016, and even the murder of young Edwin Kusasira who was shot with a single bullet to the head as he protested the recent raping of the Constitution on November 28th 2017 in Rukungiri district. Today we hear of known criminal state agents involved in the serial murder of clerics, women, businessmen, court representatives, and even foreign visitors.

For many years, many Ugandan's have been calling for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission that takes an honest look at our history and establishes the truth behind all instances of abuse, lies, murders, mass killings, at least four genocides (West Nile massacres including Ombachi massacre of 1982, the hundreds of thousands of skeletons and mass graves in Luweero in the 1980's, Acholiland/Northern Uganda in the 90's, and a little known mass massacre in Eastern Uganda in the late 80's where there are mass graves in almost all rural villages created at the time of the Mukura massacre 1989, Karamoja killings that saw the death of Irish priest Father Declan O'Toole killed by UPDF military in Karamoja as he defended the local rural population against mass expropriations and probable massacres that has led to human trafficking of the Karamoja people who are now the women and children begging on the streets of Kampala) and any other human rights violations in our history.

Human rights abuses are not limited to direct killings. Milton Obote for example refused to deal with the HIV epidemic in Rakai district in 1984 when it had just started. Claiming that "this is just typhoïd". Had he taken the matter seriously at the onset, maybe today there wouldn't have been the millions of Ugandans who have since died of HIV/AIDS. What about corruption? How many Ugandàns are dying since the 1980's to today, simply because life-saving medication or diagnosis equipment has been stolen by corrupt officials in total impunity, and resold in the black market?

However in regards to serious crimes against humanity, after the Acholi/LRA war ended in 2006, several concerned NGO's and civil society organizations drafted a law that would establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Since then, and it is now over a decade, nothing has been done to pass the law in parliament and further this noble cause. An endeavour that has helped countries like South Africa and Rwanda in more recent times.

According to the United Nations which in 2010, and under resolution 65/196, proclaimed March 24th as the International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims, the purpose of the Day is to honour the memory of victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice. Pay tribute to those who have devoted their lives to the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all. Denounce violations of the human rights of the most vulnerable populations and defend the principles of protecting lives, promoting human dignity and oppose all forms of violence.

--
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com