Amnesty in Africa

This is a continuation of Episode 9 in this episode, Eric Kabendera and Tito Magoti continue talking with Fatma about their gut wrenching experiences inside the notorious Segerea Maximum Security Prison in Dar-es-Salaam a city in Tanzania.

This episode is hosted by a special guest Fatma Karume a Tanzanian Human Rights Lawyer and Barrister. She moderates the conversation of Tito Magoti and Eric Kabendera two Tanzanian human rights defenders who have paid a heavy price for speaking truth to power. Tito and Eric became friends when their serving their time in the notorious Segerea Maximum security prison in Dar-es-salaam.

In this Episode, Eron Kiiza a Ugandan Lawyer and environmental human rights defender speaks about the impact of the Climate crisis on Uganda if protecting the environment is not prioritized. Eron was part of the legal team that represented the young students who we listed to in the previous episode when they were arrested and intimidated by the Ugandan security forces.

This episode features voices of young university students and Human rights defenders; Elizabeth Nyanzi, Solomon Nabuyanda, Kaye Yuda Tadeo and Lubega Nsamba despite arrests and intimidation, they are determined to go all the way. They were arrested and beaten up when they took to the streets of Kampala to protest against the East African Crude Oil Pipe Line.  In  October 2022,  headlines in the Ugandan media were all about East African Crude Oil Pipe Line. The European parliament threatened to withdraw funding citing the human rights impact of the pipeline. Young people voices are much needed  especially because their futures will be greatly impacted by the climate crisis.

In this episode, we host Lillian Nalwoga the President of the Internet society's Uganda chapter to discuss the raise of digital authoritarianism in Africa, in light of the Computer Misuse amendment Act 2022 in Uganda. Uganda has been accused of weaponizing laws to stifle online dissent. In 2021, during the Ugandan general elections, there was a total internet blackout in Uganda for close to 5 days.

The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2013 brought the world’s attention to the entrenched legal and social discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community in Uganda. Despite the legislation being repealed in 2014, there is substantial evidence of the law being enforced recently, with LGBTQI people frequently subject to arrest and arbitrary detentions. Sandra Kwikiriza a Ugandan queer woman and founder of Her Internet speaks to us about her lived experience as a queer woman living in Uganda.

In this Episode, Andrew Karamagi a Ugandan lawyer and Human rights activist  discusses issues around freedom of expression and assembly in Uganda. In 2013, the Public Mamagement order act gave sweeping powers to Ugandan authorities to clampdown on protests. Even though section 8 of the POMA has since been repealed media reports indicate that Uganda continues to stifle freedom of expression by beating torturing protestors.

A report by Journalists For Justice and Sauti Kubwa “Right the Wrongs: Spotlight on the 2020 General Election in Tanzania”, documents how armoured vehicles patrolled the streets where security forces, including the Tanzania Police Force, the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces, Zanzibar Special Forces and alleged militia and vigilante groups reportedly shot and killed several civilians. In the lead-up to the elections and days after, there was a heavy and intimidating security forces presence across Zanzibar. Security officers harassed and physically assaulted residents, who remained fearful of reporting such incidents since the perpetrators were the same individuals tasked with maintaining security and receiving reports of violations. Ismail Jussa was one of the victims of this torture, he shares with us his story.

Deprose Muchena the Senior Director for Regional Human Rights Impact at Amnesty international eloquently speaks to us about the work of Amnesty in Africa. He speaks about challenges Amnesty in Africa faces working in a region where governments accused of human rights abuses, the innovation utilizing innovation and digital technologies in their work to defend and protect human rights.

From Audrey Lorde, James Baldwin to Maya Angelou, poetry has been used to challenge oppressive power structures. When we think of protests, which for us at Amnesty mean another form of freedom of expression, we recognize that there are other forms of protests for some people, the imagination of protesting is taking over the streets displaying placards and singing slogans. In this episode, our guests three Ugandan women, Mercy Geno, Caroline Acen Afroetry, Brandy Arinaitwe serve us something special, a tasty dish of their Protest Poetry.