Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

13 April 2011



Four human rights defenders have been detained by immigration officers at Entebbe airport, and threatened with deportation on the next flight. They were travelling to Kampala to meet with the Chief Justice of Uganda to discuss the case of Mr. Al-Amin Kimathi. The eight other members of the delegation, which included two British nationals, have been allowed to enter the country.

The four detained are Mr. Samwel Mohochi, a trustee of the Kenya National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders; Mr. Hassan Omar Hassan, from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR); Mr. Hussain Khalid, from Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI); and Mr. Muhdhar Khitamy, chairman of the Coast province branch of SUPKEM (the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims).

They were detained by immigration officers this morning, and have not yet been provided with any explanations for the refusal of entry. The four defenders have now been informed that they will deported on the next flight out. East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network calls on the Ugandan authorities to immediately halt the deportation and to allow the four defenders to enter the country to attend their confirmed meeting with the Chief Justice.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Hassan Shire Sheikh, Chairperson of EHAHRD-Net on +256 772 753 753 or executive defenddefenders.org or Ms. Rachel Nicholson, Advocacy officer, EHAHRDP at advocacy defenddefenders.org, +256 312 265 824 or +256 778 921 274.