Uganda
Active Cases
Human rights defenders in Uganda have faced increased threats and harassment in recent years as the government has moved to restrict freedom of expression and association. Human rights defenders working in the north of the country on human rights violations in the context of the ongoing conflict have faced threats and attacks from both sides. Human rights defenders advocating for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people have also been particularly at risk.
Finished Cases:
Human rights defenders are regularly accused of threatening national security interests, of supporting the opposition, or armed groups. They are threatened, intimidated and harassed. False information is published on their work, their activities are defamed, and they are sometimes dragged into costly and lengthy legal procedures to divert or distract their organizations. Laws on sedition, terrorism and defamation are often used to limit or prevent freedom of expression by the media, serving to increase their isolation and vulnerablitiy.
There are restrictions on freedom of speech, the media, freedom of association and assembly. The Ugandan government has clamped down on independent media, with several journalists facing criminal prosecution on account of their work reporting on human rights violations. Independent radio stations and newspapers covering the presidential and parliamentary elections face prosecution for promoting civil unrest.
Human rights defenders working in the context of the longstanding conflict with the Lords Resistance Army in the north of the country face serious risks while carrying out their activities and have been threatened and attacked by both sides.
New restrictive legislation has been introduced by the government, hampering the exercise of freedom of association, expression and peaceful assembly. In June 2006 the Ugandan parliament enacted the 'Non-Governmental Organisations (Amendment) Registration Act', as a means of supervision and surveillance of NGOs. The Act increases administrative constraints for the registration process of NGO's and provides for criminal sanctions against NGO's and their members if they contravene it. The NGO National Board which issues registration certificates and permits is exclusively composed of government representatives and has now been granted even wider discretionary powers in the affairs of NGO's.
Human rights defenders advocating for LGBT rights are particularly at risk, since homosexuality is illegal in Uganda and homophobia is widespread. They regularly face social exclusion, violence and harassment, and threat of criminal prosecution on account of their sexual orientation. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni's government has frequently threatened, harassed and vilified lesbians and gays.