Clear International

Riots in Kamapala

Posted by Andrew MacKay on 05 03 2010

04/03/2010

Last September rioting took place in and around Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Many people were arrested, with a large percentage of these believed to have been innocent bystanders

Matthew and Anna Price, tell us of the encouraging work at the Ugandan Christian Lawyers’ Fraternity (UCLF), in ensuring that those arrested were given access to fair representation for their trial.  

The riots
Last September’s riots occurred when police and supporters of a traditional king violently clashed.

Demonstrators were protesting against the government's attempts to stop the king of Buganda, King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, from visiting a hostile region of his community, north-east of Kampala.

At least two people were killed in the riots, but a witness said that he had counted seven bodies, adding that all the victims appeared to be civilians.

Rounded up

At the time of the riots, the press was reporting that 500 people were arrested, but some more recent estimations put that figure as high as 1,000.

 

Ensuring justice

Because of UCLF’s expertise in this area, we have now been approached by a Danish donor – DANIDA, to coordinate the response of a number of legal aid providers to ensure all those charged receive representation as they are brought for trial.

This is an excellent opportunity to stand alongside a marginalised group and ensure that justice is done – and seen to be done – in what is a particularly politically charged context.

Please pray

Please pray for Eunice, Suzanne and Solomon, the UCLF criminal public defence team. Eunice and Suzanne will be taking on much of the representation in the 2009 riot cases, so pray that God’s justice reigns.

Praise God that this team, together with members offering their services for free, are now active in almost all the Chief Magistrate’s courts in Kampala.