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Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Uganda (RATIFICATION: 1963)

The Committee notes with concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons. 1. Law enforcement measures. The Committee previously noted the adoption of the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2009, and requested the Government to provide information on the application in practice of this Act, including the number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and specific penalties imposed.

The Committee notes the absence of information on this point in the Government’s report. However, it notes the Annual Report on the Trend of Trafficking in Persons in Uganda, 2013 (Trend of Trafficking Report). It notes in particular the creation of the Coordination Office to counter trafficking in persons (COCTIP) which is a focal coordinating and monitoring centre to counter trafficking in persons activities. The Coordination Office also supports a number of activities, including the development of a National Task Force to combat trafficking, a five-year Anti-Trafficking National Action Plan, as well as a national data base on trafficking. The Committee further notes the statistics of 2013 in the Trend of Trafficking Report. It notes in particular that a total of eight capacity building workshops were held with a total of 350 stakeholder members who were trained. A total of 159 criminal case files related to trafficking in persons were opened up by the Police all over the country, out of which 126 criminal case files related to transnational trafficking in persons, while 33 were related to internal trafficking. A total number of 56 suspects were taken to court and at least two of them were found guilty of promoting trafficking in persons. Two other suspects who had been taken to court in 2012 were also convicted on the grounds of aggravated trafficking in persons. The Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons. It also requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to implement the Anti-Trafficking National Action Plan, and to indicate the results achieved in combating trafficking in persons. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and specific penalties imposed.

2. Assistance and protection of victims. The Committee notes that according to the Trend of Trafficking Report, a total of 837 victims of trafficking (including suspected victims) were registered for the year 2013, out of which 429 were victims of transnational trafficking while 408 were trafficked internally. Two hundred and twenty transnational victims of trafficking for labour exploitation were registered, as well as 63 victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation. An estimated number of 250 victims of transnational trafficking in persons had been assisted to return and get re-integrated. The Committee further notes that several stakeholders, including the Police and NGOs have provided assistance to victims of trafficking including temporary shelters, welfare, psychosocial counselling, vocational training and reintegration packages. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to identify, and to provide protection and assistance to victims of trafficking, including statistical data on the number of persons benefiting from these services.

Articles 1(1) and 2(1). Freedom of career military officers to leave their service. The Committee previously noted that, pursuant to section 28(1) of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Conditions of Service) (Officers) Regulations, the application to resign may be either accepted or refused by the Commissions Board. It requested the Government to provide information on the application of section 28(1) in practice, indicating the criteria applied in accepting or rejecting a resignation.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force (UPDF) approved the retirement of 1,400 soldiers. The soldiers, to be retired, applied to leave the army for various reasons, including old age, ill-health and early retirement to participate in national politics. A soldier intending to retire applies to the Commission Board chaired by the Chief of Defence Forces, which decides whether to grant the retirement or not within 90 days. The Government further indicates that a new set of regulations entitled Uganda People’s Defence Forces ((UPDF) regulations was published, replacing the National Resistance Army (Condition of Service) (Men) Regulation No. 7 of 1993. The Committee notes that under section 105 of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces Act, 2012, regulations might be issued for ensuring discipline and good administration of the army. The Committee notes however that a copy of the regulations to which the Government refers to has not been attached to the report. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the criteria applied in accepting or rejecting a resignation by the Commission Board within the 90 days referred to above. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate the number of cases in which such resignations were refused and the grounds for refusal. Please, provide a copy of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) regulations, in order to ascertain whether the provisions related to the resignation of military officers are compatible with the Convention.