Uganda: Advancing human rights implementation through collaborative efforts

Published on 10 Oct 2024, 04:30 PM

Follow up of recommendations

Group picture Day 1

Kampala, Uganda – September 2024: The Centre for Civil and Political Rights (CCPR Centre), in partnership with key stakeholders in Uganda, has taken significant steps toward advancing human rights implementation in the country. From September 16 to 19, 2024, a mission led by Imeru Tamerat Yigezu, a member of the UN Human Rights Committee, and André Kangni Afanou, Africa Coordinator at the CCPR Centre, brought together government representatives, civil society organizations (CSOs), and members of Parliament. This mission aimed to evaluate Uganda’s progress in implementing key human rights recommendations and foster a stronger partnership between Ugandan institutions and international human rights mechanisms.

The mission was a multifaceted endeavor, combining high-level discussions, advocacy workshops, and strategic meetings. It ultimately aimed to equip Ugandan stakeholders with the necessary tools to champion human rights more effectively. The tangible outcomes from the mission underscore the CCPR Centre’s role in shaping Uganda’s trajectory toward fulfilling its international human rights obligations.

"We need a more transparent and independent process for appointing commission heads, like Kenya’s model of public officer appointments."

- Hon. Nabagabe Flavia, Member of Parliament about the UCHR

Key activities undertaken

Meeting with Ms. Mariam Fauzat Wangady, Chairperson of the UHRC

Three core activities marked the mission’s agenda:

1. Roundtable discussions (September 17, 2024): The mission featured discussions that convened over 30 representatives from the Ugandan government, the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), and various CSOs. These sessions enabled a collaborative review of Uganda’s implementation of the UN Human Rights Committee’s recommendations. Emphasis was placed on critical areas such as the independence of the UHRC, the status of the National Legal Aid Bill, and the protection of LGBTQI+ rights.

2. Advocacy workshop (September 18, 2024): This workshop brought together a diverse group of participants, including members of Parliament, to strengthen their engagement with UN human rights mechanisms. The launch of the "Manual for Parliamentarians" was a key milestone, providing MPs with practical guidance on how to monitor and promote human rights within their legislative roles.

3. Strategic advocacy meetings: Senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with Ms. Mariam Fauzat Wangady, Chairperson of the UHRC, engaged in strategic dialogues with the mission team. These discussions focused on enhancing multi-stakeholder collaboration and reaffirming Uganda’s commitment to human rights.

Significant outcomes

Picture after meeting with the Head of Cabinet, Minister of Foreign affairs

The activities helped launch the process of common evaluation of the recommendations. But above all, both civil society and members of Parliament expressed concern about some pressing issues. Mr. Robert Kirenga highlighted the need for greater transparency in the appointment of UHRC members, agreeing with Hon. Nabagabe Flavia, member of Parliament, stated:: "We need a more transparent and independent process for appointing commission heads, like Kenya’s model of public officer appointments." The meetings reinforced the shared responsibility between government, civil society, and international partners in upholding human rights standards.

The mission yielded substantial results across four critical areas:

1. Collaborative evaluation of Human Rights Committee recommendations: Stakeholders collectively reviewed the implementation of key recommendations, with notable discussions on improving the transparency and independence of the UHRC and advancing the stalled National Legal Aid Bill. The protection of LGBTQI+ rights was also addressed, with assurances that no one would be persecuted based on their sexual orientation.

2. Empowerment of Parliamentarians: The advocacy workshop equipped ten (10) MPs with the knowledge and tools to better engage with human rights issues, particularly through the introduction of the "Manual for Parliamentarians." This manual serves as an essential resource to help lawmakers understand and implement the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee.

3. Strengthening civil society: CSOs received capacity-building support, enhancing their ability to monitor human rights implementation and advocate for accountability. This empowerment ensures that civil society can continue to play a critical watchdog role in Uganda’s human rights landscape.

4. Raising public awareness: Public awareness initiatives were bolstered by the launch of visual tools like posters summarizing the Human Rights Committee's recommendations. These materials aim to simplify complex legal texts and make human rights issues more accessible to a wider audience.

Challenges and future perspectives

A significant aspect of the mission in Uganda was the creation of collaborative working groups for civil society organizations (CSOs). These groups were designed to enable an objective evaluation of the government's progress in implementing human rights recommendations. This mechanism provides civil society a formal role in assessing and pushing for necessary reforms, fostering greater transparency and accountability.

In addition to empowering CSOs, there was also a notable willingness among parliamentarians to take ownership of the process and engage actively in human rights advocacy. The involvement of lawmakers is critical to ensure that the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee are implemented with national legislative support. As one member of Parliament stated, “We need to ensure that the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee has the resources and access to effectively fulfill its mandate.”

Moving forward, the primary challenge will be finding effective ways to operationalize a framework for collaboration between parliamentarians, the Uganda National Human Rights Commission (UHRC), and civil society. The National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders-Uganda (NCHRD-U) and the CCPR Centre will focus on facilitating this cooperation, which will be key to ensuring sustained progress in human rights implementation across the country.

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