UHRC Gears Up Government Agencies and Stakeholders for UN Human Rights Review

As Uganda prepares to present its progress on implementing the 2022 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations, the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has brought together key stakeholders to evaluate and document the country’s achievements in promoting and protecting human rights.

The one-day engagement took place on Monday at Esella Hotel in Kira Municipality and brought together participants from civil society organizations (CSOs), government ministries and agencies, the Judiciary, Uganda Law Society, and academia. The goal was to share best practices and collaborate on drafting comprehensive reports that accurately reflect Uganda’s progress in fulfilling its UPR commitments.

“This national conference is a crucial platform — it gives us the opportunity to ask the hard questions, listen to one another, and foster collaboration,” said UHRC Chairperson, Adv. Mariam Wangadya, during her keynote address. “The reports we compile must be honest. Let’s highlight the real improvements — lives changed, systems strengthened. Let’s counter misinformation with real stories of positive change happening across the country.”

Wangadya explained that Uganda has undergone three UPR cycles: in 2011, 2016, and 2022. In the 2016 review, Uganda received 226 recommendations, accepting 148 and noting 78. In 2022, the number of recommendations increased to 273, with Uganda accepting 139 and noting 134 — representing an acceptance rate of 51 percent.

She acknowledged that while this may seem like a modest figure, each accepted recommendation signifies a genuine commitment. “Behind every recommendation is a policy, and behind every policy is the potential to transform lives,” she emphasized.

Speaking on funding, Wangadya pointed out that although the UHRC’s budget has seen a slight increase in the last financial year, it remains inadequate — especially as the country enters a critical electoral period. “Moderate growth is not enough. We need more resources to fulfill our mandate effectively,” she stressed.

UHRC Director of Monitoring and Inspection, Ruth Ssekindi, also addressed the gathering and emphasized that Uganda’s human rights obligations go beyond national borders. “The Government of Uganda is accountable not only to its citizens but also to the international community,” she said.

Ssekindi explained that multiple states and global actors — including independent experts and CSOs — rely on reports from the UHRC to assess Uganda’s human rights performance. She underscored the importance of the UPR process as a unique United Nations mechanism that reviews all 193 member states every four and a half years — not by force, but by mutual commitment.

Uganda’s Human Rights Progress: Key Highlights

Social Protection: The Senior Citizens Grant now benefits more than 370,000 elderly Ugandans across the country.

Poverty Alleviation: Through the Parish Development Model (PDM), the government has invested UGX 2.5 trillion to drive grassroots economic transformation.

Gender and Disability Inclusion: The National Action Plan for Women, Peace, and Security is currently being implemented in 40 districts, gradually breaking down long-standing barriers.

Child Protection: Uganda has stepped up efforts against child labor and human trafficking, resulting in over 2,000 rescue operations and successful prosecutions under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

Access to Justice: More than 250 paralegals have been trained and deployed to remote areas, thanks to a partnership between the UHRC and the Uganda Law Society.

Justice for Detainees: Pre-trial detainees are now seeing faster case handling following UHRC interventions — a significant improvement over past delays.

Upcoming Deadlines for UPR Report Submission

The Uganda Human Rights Commission and civil society organizations are expected to submit their reports by June 25, 2026, while the government’s national report is scheduled for submission in October 2026.

The Universal Periodic Review is a peer-review mechanism under the United Nations Human Rights Council, providing each UN member state the opportunity to declare actions taken to improve human rights, and to receive constructive feedback from fellow states approximately every four and a half years.