The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has commenced consultations for its 29th Annual Report on the State of Human Rights and Freedoms in Uganda, opening a platform for government institutions, civil society organisations, professionals and other stakeholders to give evidence on the country’s human rights situation in 2026.The two-day engagement, organised by the UHRC Directorate of Monitoring and Inspections, is bringing together stakeholders from different sectors to examine issues affecting the enjoyment and protection of human rights.
Among the areas being considered are juvenile justice, access to healthcare, the rights of older persons, security guards’ welfare, air quality, digital rights and food safety.The consultations have attracted officials from the Ministries of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Health, as well as representatives from the Governance and Security Programme Secretariat, Help Age Advocacy Network Uganda, Uganda Medical Association, Federation for Uganda Medical Interns, Africa Green Health Network and other organisations.Acting Secretary to the Commission Kamadi Byonabye said the consultations are intended to help the Commission obtain perspectives from different actors before compiling the annual report. UHRC Editorial Board Chairperson and Commissioner Crispin Kaheru emphasised the importance of producing a report that is firmly grounded in evidence, saying the Commission needs to hear from government, civil society, academia and professionals working directly in the selected areas.
Kaheru said the report will examine progress made in promoting and protecting human rights, identify gaps that continue to exist and consider what should be done to address them. He also urged the team preparing the report to document the real experiences of Ugandans instead of relying only on theoretical or textbook descriptions of human rights concerns.Opening the meeting on behalf of UHRC Chairperson Mariam Wangadya, Commissioner Shifrah Lukwago described the consultations as an essential part of developing a credible national human rights report. She called on participants to openly examine government performance, areas where responses have been inadequate or delayed and the implementation of recommendations made in previous UHRC reports, while also paying attention to emerging concerns.Juvenile justice was among the issues that attracted attention, with Senior State Attorney at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Counsel Brian Musota, presenting on the state of juvenile justice in Uganda. He noted that the country has laws and legal instruments designed to protect children and promote juvenile justice, but highlighted effective implementation as a major issue in ensuring that the protections provided by law translate into meaningful outcomes for children.
The working conditions of medical interns also featured prominently, with outgoing Secretary General of the Federation for Uganda Medical Interns Dr Allan Okwir highlighting delayed deployment, inadequate allowances and long working hours. He said some medical interns work for more than 36 hours without rest and called for greater attention to their welfare and rights. The consultations will continue providing the UHRC with information from different sectors as it prepares its 29th Annual Report, which is expected to document human rights progress, outstanding gaps and the experiences of Ugandans across the country.
