By Isaac Akugizibwe

KIU, Main Campus - KIU Law students last week launched a Human Rights Club to check human rights violations within and outside the Campus. 

The Students Initiative for Human Rights Club, launched on Friday 4th June 2021 at Almaz restaurant inside KIU Main Campus is the first human rights club at Uganda's supreme private University.

While launching the club, the four Principal founders of the club said it was imperative on them to see a human rights club established in a diverse environment where several human rights violations go unchecked. 

The four Principal founders namely Mahad Balyamujura, Gilbert Kansime, Maureen Akello and Bernard Zakar admitted that they had like minds prior to the ideas' inception and formulation.

"When we first met, it was evident that great minds think alike. We first convened at Mahad's place and surprisingly we had the same idea he had called us to discuss. We all wanted to create a society that would defend human rights at KIU," said Zakar, one of the Principal founders of the Students' initiative for Human rights.

According to Kansime, the main mission of the club is to advocate for, create and sensitize students and the general public about human rights. He added that the Association will not only benefit Law students but the entire KIU student body.
"When we sat, we found out that the Association will not only benefit Law students but also all students at KIU," Kansime disclosed.

Unlike her counterparts, Maureen Akello admitted that she joined the Students Initiative for Human rights because she had watched helplessly as her own rights got violated before.

The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries among whom was the Chief Guest Dr. Livingston Sewanyana the director of Foundation for Human Rights Initiative Uganda, Louis Allan, the founder and president for Alliance for Human Rights International, the KIU Guild President, the Law Society president and students among others.

Courtesy Photo