Chapter Four Uganda
Chapter Four Uganda is an independent non-profit organisation based in Kampala, Uganda. Its work aims to challenge human rights violations, demand legal accountability, and advocate for progressive policy and practice reform. The organisation seeks to defend key areas such as civic space, human dignity, equality and non-discrimination. It also promotes reform of the criminal justice system. Chapter Four Uganda achieves these objectives by employing a range of legal mechanisms such as conducting human rights investigations, offering probono legal assistance, filing strategic and public interest cases and supporting civil society organisations with general counsel. Additionally, it facilitates a variety of research and advocacy programmes such as its Digital Media Program which focuses on leveraging social media and other digital tools to amplify civil liberties advocacy.
The Ugandan government continues to limit freedom of expression and association with human rights defenders being subjected to threats, intimidation and judicial harassment due to their legitimate human rights work. A number of human rights organisations have reported break-ins at their offices. Particularly at risk are human rights defenders advocating for the rights of LGBTI people. Same-sex conduct remains criminalised under Uganda’s colonial-era law, which prohibits “carnal knowledge” among people of the same sex. In August 2017, the Minister of Ethics and Integrity issued a directive shutting down events associated with Pride celebrations in Kampala and Jinja and deployed police officers to the venues.
