United Nations should never lessen on Human Rights Observation and the Rule of Law

My clarion call to the United Nations is to reignite the oversight role of monitoring Human rights observation and advancing the rule of law without fear or favor of capitalists, autocrats, and totalitarians by revoking the UN Charter, dialogues, international treaties, sanctions, and embargos.

By Robert Kigongo.

I joined the United Nations in commemorating 79 years of existence since the scourge of World War II.

Sadly, the 79-year commemorations in Uganda came at a time when the UN Agency designated for Universal Human Rights observation was terminated amidst the escalating Human violations ahead of the 2026 elections.

During the cocktail of activities ranging from 5 Kilometer walk, Zumba, soccer game, UN Dinner in Kampala;

My thoughts quickly ran back to August 2023 when the government of Uganda terminated the contract of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) after 18 years under unclear circumstances;

According to OHCHR officials admitted that the UN human rights office still wanted to continue operations.

The UN OHCHR’s role all over the world is to promote and monitor the effective implementation of international human rights standards at the national level, advancing the rule of law and performing core protection functions such as preventing torture and degrading treatments.

As an elite group popping champagne in 5 Star Hotels, we may pretend all is well but the glaring gaps in fostering Human rights observation and the decline in the rule of law in Uganda can’t be swept under the carpet.

The Human rights violations marred certain sections of the population have attracted sanctions and trade embargos from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) is unable to fit into the role of OHCHR due to political corruption, human resource gaps, and low budget.

‘It very crystal clear and obvious that we still need OHCHR for its impartiality unlike the UHRC because the UN Human rights agency funded civil societies that employ thousands of Ugandans and support human rights observation’

I remember OHCHR used to offer capacity-building programs for journalists, security officers, and members of parliament about Human Rights observation.

Yes, I acknowledge and appreciate some UN agencies for policy recommendations, cooperation frameworks, humanitarian assistance, and all efforts to attain the Sustainable Development Goals under the NRM government.

Unfortunately, the silence on the ongoing human rights violations like abductions, torture, and injustices is too loud.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator Office heads the UN system, Peace and Security perhaps trying to share the burden and void left by OHCHR’s closure, on the contrary, we are yet to see that.

I have also noticed a former Rosa Malango the UNRC representative returning to Uganda and openly working for the Ugandan NRM government.

It’s no longer a shock now that during her term of office as a resident coordinator, the United Nations never condemned the series 2020 November massacre, human denigration, and mal elections.

 As citizens captured in the wishes of the UN Charter we expect the most prestigious multilateral board to monitor and hold governments accountable for human rights violations.

Subsequently, such incidents have led to doubts and lessened Trust and confidence in the UN system towards mitigating underlying factors that contribute to civil unrest and wars.

The UN often uses the line ‘Leaving No One Behind’ which prompts me to ask fundamental key questions,

Can the UN afford to close her ears and eyes amidst the glaring political injustices and diminishing rule of Law?

Notably, without fear of contradiction am not proposing undiplomatic exchanges or altercations between any member state and the UN but I demand serious actions from the UN against political injustices, declining rule of law, and human rights violations.

Imagine a mother of two children Olivia Lutaya who was abducted and ended up in Makindye Military court for 4 years and later coarse to plead guilty in a country with a UN full presence.

The devastating child labor in mineral mining sites continues to be the order of the day in the Bulisa, Kasanda, Karamoja, and Buhweju districts.

When Kemitooma Nyina’kyenzibo, Aloikin Opoloje, and Kobusingye Norah female peaceful demonstrators against corruption and inequalities are brutally arrested?

When Civil Societies advancing human rights are closed in unclear circumstances.

When draconian laws targeting key populations and civic spaces are being passed by parliament?

The silence of the United Nations has been extremely louder than rock and roll music.

It neglects of responsibilities to argue that abductions, torture, Corruption, mal elections, bad governance, and inequalities are internal matters of a sovereign state.

Am wondering if is it okay for the UN to periodically convene political heads in New York to make cosmetic statements but can’t afford to summon them for violation of human rights.

In Uganda have not even seen a single statement condemning the beating of Journalists, abductions, and torture cases of Latif Madoi, and Achileo Kiwanuka among others even when credible media houses consistently publish the stories.

‘United Nations must renew its commitment towards safeguarding the Universal Human Rights Observation and advancing the rule of Law as core objectives of its establishment’

Consequentially, human rights violations across the World have led to human denigration, and civil arrest thus escalating into civil wars, unconstitutional change of governments, refugee crises, political instabilities, and economic setbacks.

Therefore, Human rights violations across the World, unconstitutional change of governments in West Africa, the Russian-Ukrainian war, Israel Hamas war, and BRICS formation must be areas of honest closed-door discussions before the World escalates into a third world war.

Universal Human rights observation and the rule of Law contributing to the prevention of torture and degrading treatments must remain the cardinal duties of the United Nations above any other.

The United Nations in Uganda must consider engaging the host government for speedy negotiations to bring back the OHCHR to Uganda before the 2026 elections.

My clarion call to the United Nations is to reignite the oversight role of monitoring Human rights observation and advancing the rule of law without fear or favor of capitalists, autocrats, and totalitarians by revoking the UN Charter, dialogues, international treaties, sanctions, and embargos.

The United Nations should never lessen its second cardinal role in the United Nations Charter anywhere in the World.

Robert Kigongo is a Sustainable Development Analyst.