As Uganda prepares to present its progress report on the implementation of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) 2022 recommendations, the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has called on civil society organizations (CSOs) to ensure honesty and objectivity in their reporting on the human rights situation in the country.
This call was made during a national stakeholders' conference held on Monday at Esella Hotel in Kira Municipality. The meeting brought together representatives from CSOs, government ministries and agencies, the judiciary, Uganda Law Society, and academia to review Uganda's progress in fulfilling its UPR commitments.
UHRC Chairperson Mariam Wangadya urged stakeholders to focus on facts and results in their reports. She stressed the importance of honest reporting that highlights both progress and challenges, while encouraging collaboration among all actors involved in the process.
"This national conference is a pivotal platform because it allows us to ask the hard questions, listen to each other, and foster collaboration. The reports we generate must be truthful, highlighting the progress made. Let's talk results--lives improved, systems strengthened--and debunk misinformation by telling the true stories of positive change that have happened in our country," Wangadya said.
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She also reminded participants that Uganda has undergone three UPR review cycles--in 2011, 2016, and most recently in 2022.
In the 2016 review, Uganda received 226 recommendations, accepted 148, and noted 78. In the 2022 review, Uganda received 273 recommendations, accepted 139, and noted 134, which translates to an acceptance rate of 51 percent.
Wangadya acknowledged that some may view the acceptance rate as low but emphasized that statistics alone do not capture the full picture. She explained that behind every accepted recommendation lies a commitment, behind each commitment lies a policy, and behind every policy, a life can potentially be transformed.
She also raised concerns about the commission's funding, noting that although the UHRC budget had seen a moderate increase in the past financial year, it remains insufficient--especially as the country heads into an electoral period when more resources are required for human rights monitoring and interventions.
UHRC Director for Monitoring and Inspection, Ruth Ssekindi, echoed Wangadya's sentiments, stressing that Uganda is not only answerable to its citizens on matters of human rights but also to the global community.
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She explained that many other states and independent UN experts rely on reports from Uganda, including those from CSOs, to assess the country's human rights performance.
She clarified that the UPR process is not an ordinary one. It is a key United Nations mechanism in which each of the UN's 193 member states voluntarily undergoes a review of its human rights record every four and a half years.
During the meeting, Uganda's recent achievements in several human rights areas were highlighted. Under social protection, the Senior Citizens Grant now benefits more than 370,000 older persons across Uganda. In the area of poverty reduction, the government has injected shs2.5 trillion into community-level development through the Parish Development Model (PDM).
On gender and disability inclusion, the National Action Plan for Women, Peace, and Security is being implemented in 40 districts, gradually breaking down barriers for women and persons with disabilities.
In child protection, Uganda has intensified its efforts to combat child labor and human trafficking, leading to 2,000 rescue operations and resulting in convictions under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
In terms of access to justice, more than 250 paralegals have been trained and deployed to remote regions through partnerships between the Uganda Law Society and the UHRC. Additionally, UHRC interventions have helped fast-track cases of pre-trial detainees, ensuring quicker access to justice.
Uganda's national UPR report is expected to be submitted in October 2026, while the UHRC and civil society organizations are required to submit their independent reports by June 25, 2026.
