UN Authority Figures

UN General Assembly President: Uganda

Sam Kutesa of Uganda, President of the UN General Assembly's 69th session
 Not only does Kutesa have close professional and personal ties to Uganda's brutal 28-year dictator Yoweri Museveni, but he is directly linked to numerous corruption scandals. Kutesa, Museveni's "top advisor and spokesperson," is reputed to be one of "the most corrupt Ugandan politicians". He has so far survived trial and conviction due to his close personal ties with Museveni. In addition, Kutesa, Uganda's foreign affairs chief, was responsible for defending Uganda's anti-gay law passed in February 2014. He said "the majority of Africans abhor this practice".

Mission of the General Assembly:
"Article 13. The General Assembly shall initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of:
    a. promoting international co-operation in the political field and encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification; b. promoting international co-operation in the economic, social, cultural, educational, and health fields, and assisting in the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion." ("UN Charter")
Term of office: 2014-2015

Uganda's Record on "the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion":
"The three most serious human rights problems in the country were a lack of respect for the integrity of the person (including unlawful killings, torture, and other abuse of suspects and detainees); restrictions on civil liberties (including freedom of assembly, the media, and association); and violence and discrimination against marginalized groups, such as women (including female genital mutilation/cutting), children (including sexual abuse and ritual killing), persons with disabilities, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Other human rights problems included harsh prison conditions, arbitrary and politically motivated arrest and detention, incommunicado and lengthy pretrial detention, restrictions on the right to a fair trial, restrictions on freedom of press, electoral irregularities, official corruption, mob violence, trafficking in persons, and forced labor, including child labor." (US State Department's Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2013, Uganda)

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