Urgent Action on behalf of Musirikale Marcel Rasta a vocal refugee detained in Kampala Uganda
Urgent Action on behalf of Musirikale Rasta Marcel Vocal Refugee Leader arrested on Thursday September 26th, 2024 and detained at Natete Police Station in Kampala Uganda
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Musirikale Rasta Marcel one among the only three remaining vocal refugee leaders advocating for the rights of refugees in Uganda: Refugee Human Rights continue to suffer in silence and highly ignored by human rights defenders
Marcel is one among the few remaining Vocal Refugee Activists highly involved in the protection of refugees in Uganda, especially advocating for the protection of Rwandan refugees in Uganda. Marcel joined this struggle when he realized that Rwanda security services operating in Uganda was killing, and deporting Rwandan refugees back in 2008, Marcel then formed a group of activists working on the protection of Rwandan refugees. However the environment has been hostile towards their advocacy up to now.
In the process of this work, Marcel received warnings from UNHCR officers and from the Government of Uganda mainly the Office of the Prime Minister Department of Refugees known as (OPM) and asked him to stop his activism which he did not, as consequences Marcel was denied first of all services especially relief aid in order to discourage him, later on they attacked his family and promised better opportunities to his wife to separate with him in order to weaken him, later on they attacked his small businesses in Kampala in order to force him to quit advocacy, later on they put him to various forms of threats, intimidations and arbitrary arrests, then they blackmailed him and black listed him everywhere and now they denied him the Refugee Identification Card, so, much as he is recognized he does not have a Refugee ID which exposes him to all forms of risks and this limits his movement and activities.
However Marcel has remained firm and strongly engaged in the protection of Refugee rights in Uganda, he is one among the three still existing in Uganda, and we must protect him so that this noble cause does not fade. These three vocal refugee leaders must feel our support otherwise if they are left alone, then refugee rights in Uganda will be compromised. It is about the survival of whole refugee population in Uganda.
All the attempts Marcel had tried to make in order to leave Uganda have been frustrated by the regime which monitors all his movements and actions. Security services have been deployed to follow up him and attempts to assassinate him physically have not yet been successful.
The cause of Marcel arrest
While in difficult situation Marcel managed to get in contact with another Rwandan refugee in Uganda with whom they became friends and this person helped Marcel so much in difficult situations to the point that Marcel could no longer doubt about this person. Last year 2023 this Rwandan refugee borrowed money to some people in Uganda which is estimated at 3000$, in the process he failed to pay the money, so they came to arrest him, as he was at the Police he called Marcel to come and help him out, Marcel then stood as a surety for him in order to be released, as he promised to look for the money and pay.
Instead of looking for them money, the man disappeared and returned back to Rwanda where he is hiding up to now. That is how the Police came and arrested Marcel so that he can help to trace the man and if not pay the money. Despite Marcel good will to cooperate and share all information to the Police about this man, still the Police did not spear him out.
We are so much concerned about the arrest of Marcel in case in which he only facilitated when there are options to trace this man to Rwanda, we do observe that the Government of Rwanda has used the same strategy in order to deport refugees back to Rwanda generally in DRC, Malawi, Zambia and in other countries. We are preoccupied that Rwanda may use the same tricks, and the Police Station where he is detained from is another issue which has played various roles in the deportation of Rwandan refugees, yet there is Old Kampala Police Station where refugees are supposed to be detained from,
Basing on the above we urge
The Government of Uganda to ensure that Marcel is safe and he is not deported back to Rwanda,
The UNHCR to offer him the necessary legal representation and urgent social assistance especially food during this time,
We call upon Human Rights Defenders to quickly intervene in this case and help Marcel to be free, at the same time make an assessment on the security situation of Marcel for appropriate responses,
We call upon people of good will to support our fundraising drive which focuses of urgent interventions to refugee human rights defenders at high risks,
We call upon the Uganda Police to transfer Marcel from Natete to Old Kampala Police Station which is in-charge of refugees in Kampala.
Thanks
Kulihoshi Musikami Pecos
Executive Director/ Global Refugee Leaders Forum
