## Letter from an Ugandan Human Rights Defenders group

# Defending Human Rights amidst the Covid-19 pandemic

As Uganda continues to register more cases of Covid-19 patients, this has prompted the Government to also continue putting more strict measures in the name of preventing more spread of the disease within the country. While this is done for the collective good and benefit of all Ugandans however, it has instead come with quite a number of Human Rights abuses perpetrated on the common citizens in the name of effecting the presidential directives against Coronavirus pandemic.
These violations of human rights for people have been continuously been done by the government security operatives in different parts of the country including severe beatings of people especially old women (single mothers) with sticks and wires which has already led to some of them lose their physical capabilities to provide for their families and the perpetrators have always just walked away with it.

*Defending Human Rights amidst the Covid-19 pandemic:* In situations like this, the dedicated work of human rights defenders becomes very crucial especially on reporting and documenting about what is happening around within communities. However, it is at the same time risky moments for their lives working while vulnerable to the situations and this mostly applies to human rights defenders working and reporting from rural areas who are some times marginalised. They can only better defend and protect rights for others if they are also in position to protect theirs. While they have to continue with updates from the fields, they face challenges mostly related to; 

*Lack internet connections and data bundles which is the most important factor to keep their work going and updated; 
*Transportation from one place to another has also become difficult now in a situation where no public vehicles are allowed to carry people apart from only those who are self riding or driving;
*Lack of protective gears like face masks, gloves while doing their work in the field; 
*Means of survival where many of human rights defenders in rural areas depend on foreign donors from Europe and USA whose countries at the same time are the most affected by the Coronavirus pandemic making it hard for them to receive funds;
*It is also a time when Human Rights defenders are being regarded as oppositions to the government due to the nature of their work by the security agencies and general public. This leads to some being arrested and detained in police custody and at times leads them to suffer from mob attacks,  community discrimination and stigmatization, putting their lives and those of their loved ones in great danger without effective support. 

However much all such challenges comes their way, they are dedicated to ensure that people’s rights in many places are protected and respected within this period of Covid-19 pandemic.

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1 abril 2020