Safety Of Ugandan Opposition Members

EDM number 1448 in 2006-07, proposed by David Drew on 10/05/2007.

That this House notes recent media reports which suggest that the Commonwealth meeting in Uganda may be cancelled due to security fears associated with the continued harassment of the Opposition and human rights abuses; regrets that Joseph Musasizi Kifefe, one of the Opposition suspects, is now seriously ill in Mulago Hospital; further notes that Mr Musasizi was one of the 22 People's Redemption Army suspects, including the main Opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, who were released by the High Court on 16th November 2005 but were immediately rearrested by the military; highlights the Constitutional Court's order of 12th January 2007 for the immediate release of Mr Musasizi, Patrick Okiring, Frank Atukunda, Yahaya Asega, Iddi Yunus, Robert Tweyambe, John Arike, Bruhan Iwago and Samson Agupio; further notes that on 1st March 2007 the High Court directed that all their previous orders and those of the Constitutional Court be honoured; further regrets that the suspects were instead charged with murder; believes that this behaviour is incompatible with the values of the Commonwealth; and calls on the Government to lead the British Commonwealth countries in persuading the Ugandan authorities to release these suspects on bail, as directed by the courts, before Her Majesty travels to Uganda.

This motion has been signed by a total of 63 MPs.