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Ugandan Hunger Striker to be deported today

chiara lauvergnac | 18.10.2005 11:19 | Migration | London | World

Charity's removal is scheduled for today 18th October. Charity's life will be in danger if she is returned to Uganda.

Charity moved to Uganda from Rwanda with her younger brother after the rest of their family were slaughtered in the genocide. Charity's husband was a prominent member of an opposition party, fighting for democratic change in Uganda. Government soldiers broke int their house, killed Charity's brother in front of her eyes than gang-raped her. Charity and her husband were taken to different prisons and their house was destroyed. The rape and torture continued until Charity managed to escape. Later she learned her husband had been killed. She left the country and sought refuge in the UK.

Instead of finding refuge in the UK she drowned in problems. She lost her asylum claim and appeal because of poor legal representation and because she could not provide enough evidence to support her story. When she was gang raped and arrested she forgot to take relevant documents with her from the burning house. Subsequantly she lost all state (NASS) support and her accommodation, and survived sleeping on frends' floors until she was arrested and taken to Yarl's Wood detention centre. After a first attempt to deport her failed she went on hungerstrike with other Ugandan women, protesting against their planned deportations and against the conditions in the centre. Supporters and campaigners from London and the south got in contact with her. A second attempt to deport her was aborted when her new solicitor made an application for judicial review, which was later refused. Weak for the effects of the hungerstrike, they tried to move her to Dungavel detention centre in Scotland, possibly with the intent to separate her from her friends and so berak the hungerstrike. Other women defended her with their bodies. Early in the morning, when the women fell asleep, they took her anyway on a gruelling 12 hous journey. In Dungavel Charity felt very lonely because she was left on her own in a big room most of the time. However she met with more supporters who set up a campaign for her. Now they have moved her back to Yarl's Wood. Her solicitor has made new legal representation, but the Home Office has not replied yet and the removal still stands.

If deported to Uganda Charity can be imprisoned, raped and tortured again, or at the best end up totally destitute and homeless, as she has nowhere to go and no-one to turn to. Her health is not good. She has a great personality and a lively mind, and could achieve much if given the opportunity.

Another Ugandan woman deported has disappeared. She has not got in touch, she would have contacted her friends if she could.

Another one has got in touch, she is alive and free but she has has nothing. Her family were either killed or have disappeared. She left when she was 17 and does not remember the country. She has been trying to get a job but it is almost impossible for her as she does not know anybody.

Nobody is monitoring what happens to 'failed' asylum seekes returned to Uganda.

Museveni is no better than Mugabe when it comes to human rights, but the UK want to mantain friendly relationships, merely because of their economic inetersts.

chiara lauvergnac

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  1. Charity is back — Chiara