Uganda Considers Closing UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Human Rights Watch is calling on the Ugandan government to reverse its decision to end the mandate of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Uganda. On February 6, 2023, Uganda informed the OHCHR Uganda country office that it would not renew its agreement to host the UN entity beyond its current three-year term ending in February 2023.

Many activists view the UN human rights office as playing a critical role in Uganda, supporting civil society groups and the government to promote human rights. The Ugandan government has a long history of abuse and repression, especially of critics of the government and the political opposition. These abuses escalated in the period before and continued after the 2021 general elections.

The Non-Governmental Organisations Act of 2016 heavily restricts the activism space for independent groups by giving broad powers to the government to suspend, blacklist, or revoke the licenses of organizations. The law also provides for excessive punitive measures, including imprisonment of up to three years for failing to produce to the Bureau a certificate, permit, constitution, charter, or other relevant document or information.

The authorities have used this and other laws to severely restrict civil society organizations, media, and online communication, as state agents have routinely harassed and intimidated journalists. On August 5, 2022, the government banned from operation Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), a prominent lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) rights organization.

Human Rights Watch is urging concerned UN member states to press the Ugandan government to reverse its decision and ensure that nongovernmental organizations have a safe environment to work in. “Shutting down the UN human rights office is just the latest government action to stifle those working to promote respect for human rights in Uganda,” said Oryem Nyeko, Uganda researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“The Uganda government has not only shown little commitment to addressing the country’s deteriorating human rights situation, but has increased repression of human rights groups,” Nyeko said. “Concerned UN member states should press Uganda to constructively engage with all UN human rights mechanisms and put in place measures to allow rights groups to work freely without fear.”