Hasinah Muwanga and Family Must Stay

Hasinah Muwanga was an activist in her native Uganda for the opposition party Reform Agenda, along with both her brother and husband. Political opposition was and is suppressed in Uganda, and in January 2001 a meeting of the party was stormed by armed men, who forced them to lie on the ground at gunpoint in an attempt at intimidation.

Despite this Reform Agenda continued their activities and went on to win a large majority in a local election.

In 2003 Hasinah and her husband were beaten, arrested and separated by government agents. The location of her husband is still unknown. Hasinah herself was detained without trial and suffered torture and sexual abuse, being so badly mistreated that she suffered a miscarriage while incarcerated. After 7 ½ months she managed to escape and flee to Kenya, then to the UK and was forced to leave her two children behind with a close friend.

Hasinah has lived in this country now for over four years, mainly in London where she was keenly involved in women’s campaign groups and other community organisations. She has recently moved to Sheffield, and has two young children who were born in the UK and have never known Uganda.

Despite her persecution, Hasinah has not yet been granted permanent leave to remain. The Home Office believes that her influence in the Reform Agenda party was not great enough to endanger her should she return, given the amount of time that has elapsed. However, it was documented recently by a Ugandan newspaper that, at a funeral held for her husband (as is customary after 5 years of disappearance) armed men appeared and were asking where she was - evidently taking advantage of a possible opportunity to track her down. Luckily she was not in attendance. It is our belief that this report, coupled with the horrific treatment she has already suffered, is clear evidence that should Hasinah return to Uganda, she would be in immediate danger due to her history of political affiliation. We ask that she and her children should therefore be granted leave to remain in the UK.

Hajat Hasinah Muwanga - HO ref: M1238658