Latest news with #Ugandan
The Print
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
Kenya rights activist charged with unlawful possession of ammunition, court papers show
Mwangi was 'found in possession of noxious substances to wit three teargas canisters without lawful authority,' according to a charge sheet seen by Reuters. Police arrested Mwangi, 42, on Saturday and said they had recovered evidence from his home, including unused teargas canisters, a '7.62mm blank round', two mobile phones, a laptop and notebooks. NAIROBI (Reuters) -Prominent Kenyan human rights activist Boniface Mwangi was charged on Monday with unlawful possession of ammunition over his alleged role in deadly anti-government protests in June, according to court papers seen by Reuters. He was also accused of illegal possession of a single round of blank ammunition. The courtroom in the capital Nairobi was packed with hundreds of activists, some wearing Kenyan flags. Over the years Mwangi, who once ran for parliament on an anti-corruption platform, has earned a reputation for speaking out against human rights violations in Kenya and elsewhere. Last month hundreds of Kenyans took to the streets to protest against the death in police custody of political blogger Albert Ojwang. Police initially implied that Ojwang had died by suicide but later apologised after an autopsy found that his wounds pointed to assault as the cause of death. The demonstration over Ojwang's death reignited protests that had erupted last year over the cost of living and alleged police brutality and corruption. In May, Mwangi was arrested and deported from neighboring Tanzania, where he had traveled to observe a hearing in a treason case against detained opposition leader Tundu Lissu. He said afterwards that members of the Tanzanian security forces had sexually assaulted him and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire during their detention. (Reporting by Humphrey Malalo; Writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Ammu Kannampilly and Sharon Singleton) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Kenya drops terror charge against prominent activist
NAIROBI, KENYA - Kenya dropped terror charges against prominent activist Boniface Mwangi on Monday, following widespread condemnation, hitting him with a lesser charge of unlawful possession of ammunition. The east African country has seen a wave of deadly protests against President William Ruto and police brutality that have left dozens dead and thousands of businesses destroyed. Rights groups have criticised the government's heavy-handed response, including the recent use of terrorism charges against protesters. Mwangi was detained on Saturday and accused by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations of the "facilitation of terrorist acts", which he denied, declaring in an image on X: "I am not a terrorist". He appeared in a Nairobi court on Monday chanting "Ruto Must Go". His charge sheet, seen by AFP, accused him of "possession of noxious substances to wit three teargas cannisters without lawful authority", as well as a single round of blank ammunition. He pleaded not guilty, denying all charges, and was released on a one-million-shilling (around $7,000) personal bond. "The truth is our president is scared of young people, because young people are organising by themselves, they are going to the streets, they are demanding better," Mwangi told supporters and journalists outside the court. "Our president thinks people are being paid to go to the streets, and they think I am the financer. "People hate Ruto for free," he said. 'ABANDON THIS APPROACH' A coalition of rights groups welcomed the court's decision to drop the terrorism charges, but said they remained "deeply concerned" by its use "in more than 100 other cases". The coalition urged the authorities to "abandon this dangerous approach to managing public dissent". Last week, interior minister Kipchumba Murkomen said that 71 people were facing charges related to acts of terrorism following the recent violent protests. Responding to the criticism, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said the charges should be "understood within the framework of established legal thresholds and national security imperatives rather than interpreted as efforts to suppress legitimate political expression". Mwangi's detention over the weekend triggered significant online condemnation under the hashtag #FreeBonifaceMwangi. The search warrant police used to raid his home and office accused the campaigner of paying "goons" to stoke unrest at protests last month. Mwangi has been arrested multiple times in Kenya. He was also detained in May in neighbouring Tanzania, where he was attending the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire say they were tortured and sexually abused while in the custody of Tanzanian police before being returned to their respective countries. The pair brought a case against the Kenyan, Tanzanian and Ugandan governments to the East African Court of Justice last week. Mass protests initially broke out in Kenya in June 2024 over tax rises, and reignited last month over police violence and illegal detentions. Rights groups say more than 100 people have been killed by police since the protests began last year.
The Star
2 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Health experts, officials convene in Uganda for HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis elimination across Africa
KAMPALA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Health experts, policymakers, and researchers on Monday began a three-day meeting in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, to accelerate the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B across Africa. The event, held under the theme "Unifying Actions, Transforming Futures: Achieving Triple Elimination in Africa by 2030," is dubbed as Africa's first-ever high-level conference focused on the triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, represented by Vice President Jessica Alupo, emphasized the importance of unity and innovation in tackling the continent's health challenges, especially in the face of shifting global health priorities and diminishing funding. "As Africa, and as a global community, we must act with unity, innovation, and purpose to advance maternal and child health and eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B," said Museveni. He noted that the interconnected epidemics of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B pose a significant burden to public health, particularly through mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. Uganda's Minister of Health Ruth Aceng told the gathering that while progress has been made in HIV prevention, care, and treatment, major challenges persist, particularly in addressing syphilis and hepatitis B. She said that by the end of 2024, Africa had approximately 26.3 million people living with HIV, accounting for 65 percent of the global total. Meanwhile, syphilis cases are rising worldwide, with eight million adults infected, 700,000 congenital cases, and 230,000 deaths annually. While Africa has recorded the highest increase in syphilis cases globally, with only Botswana and Namibia currently on track to eliminate mother-to-child transmission, 65 million people across the continent are chronically infected with hepatitis B, contributing 63 percent of the world's new infections, the minister added. "Integration is the way to go now, especially in this era of unprecedented funding challenges, where we are already seeing a reduction in funding from development partners," said Aceng. According to the event organizers, the conference aligns with the World Health Organization's 2030 disease elimination targets and the African Union's Agenda 2063, both of which envision a healthier, more resilient Africa.
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Guatemalan woman who lives and works on Vermont dairy farm gets immigration reprieve — for now
As an organizer translated her remarks, a crowd of about 200 people who had gathered to support her and another undocumented man who had a required check-in Monday cheered and chanted. 'Sí se puede,' Bernardo said. 'And united we stand strong.' According to her attorney, Brett Stokes, ICE agents told her Monday that she was free for now, but that she must return again in 90 days. Advertisement For more than a decade, Bernardo and her partner have lived and worked on an Orleans County dairy farm, milking cows and raising a growing family. They have five children of their own and take care of two of Bernardo's orphaned half-sisters — all between the ages of 5 and 18. Bernardo entered the country without permission in 2014 and was immediately apprehended, according to Stokes. She has had to check in with ICE officials ever since, but those appointments have grown more frequent — and more fraught — since President Donald Trump took office vowing to deport a record number of undocumented people. Bernardo's case has drawn significant attention in Vermont over the years, with dozens of state lawmakers Advertisement 'I consider them more than just employees,' he told the Globe. 'They're part of the family.' Morin and his partner, Lynn Beede, drove Bernardo and two of her children to Monday's meeting. After she addressed the crowd of supporters, Morin said he was filled with 'relief and happiness.' 'I'm glad for her family and for everybody,' he said. 'The outcome was good today, but it's not over yet.' Bernardo was not the only Vermonter facing a nerve-wracking check-in Monday morning. Steven Tendo, a pastor and community organizer who fled his native Uganda in 2018, entered the building alongside Bernardo for a similar appointment with ICE officials. He was also released and told to return in 90 days. Tendo, 40, has said that he faced political persecution and torture in Uganda after a charitable organization he founded tangled with the Ugandan government over its civic education efforts, In 2019, a federal immigration judge denied Tendo's application for asylum, citing inconsistencies around aspects of his story. After spending more than two years in a federal immigration detention center in Texas, he relocated to Vermont, where he lives in Colchester. He now works as a licensed nursing assistant at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. Advertisement Members of a union that represents him and other hospital workers, Support Staff United, were among the protesters who joined Monday's rally for Tendo and Bernardo. 'It's a huge relief to know that you've left your bed not thinking that you're going to go back,' Tendo said after leaving his appointment. 'And all of the sudden someone tells you, 'Oh, you're OK for the next three months. Come back in October.''
eNCA
2 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Kenya drops terror charge against prominent activist
Kenya dropped terror charges against prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi on Monday, following widespread condemnation, hitting him with a lesser charge of unlawful possession of ammunition. The east African country has seen a wave of deadly protests against President William Ruto and police brutality that have left dozens dead and thousands of businesses destroyed. Rights groups have criticised the government's heavy-handed response, including the recent use of terrorism charges against protesters. Mwangi was detained on Saturday and accused by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations with the "facilitation of terrorist acts", which he denied, declaring in an image on X: "I am not a terrorist". He appeared in a Nairobi court on Monday chanting "Ruto Must Go". His charge sheet, seen by AFP, accused him of "possession of noxious substances to wit three teargas cannisters without lawful authority", as well as a single round of blank ammunition. He pleaded not guilty and was released on a one million shilling (around $7,000) bail bond. "The truth is our president is scared of young people, because young people are organising by themselves, they are going to the streets, they are demanding better," Mwangi told supporters and journalists outside the court. "Our president thinks people are being paid to go to the streets, and they think I am the financer. "People hate Ruto for free," he said. A coalition of rights groups welcomed the court's decision to drop the terrorism charges, but said they remained "deeply concerned" by the use "in more than 100 other cases". It urged authorities to "abandon this dangerous approach to managing public dissent". Mwangi's detention over the weekend triggered significant online condemnation under the hashtag #FreeBonifaceMwangi. The search warrant police used to raid his home and office accused the campaigner of paying "goons" to stoke unrest at protests last month. Mwangi has been arrested multiple times in Kenya. He was also detained in May in neighbouring Tanzania where he was attending the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire say they were tortured and sexually abused while in the custody of Tanzanian police before being returned to their respective countries. The pair brought a case against the Kenyan, Tanzanian and Ugandan governments to the East African Court of Justice last week. Mass protests initially broke out in Kenya in June 2024 over tax rises, and reignited last month over police violence and illegal detentions.
