Summary:

• The ongoing social media exhibitions in Uganda highlight the shared responsibility of all Ugandans to defend human rights. Despite shrinking civic space and challenges from government and corporate actors, brave individuals continue to hold authorities accountable.

Ongoing social media exhibitions manifest a shared responsibility among all Ugandans to be Human Rights Defenders. Chapter Four of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda provides a Bill of Rights that guarantees various rights and freedoms for individuals in Uganda. This includes recognizing the existence and work of Human Rights Defenders under Article 50(2) of the Constitution and empowering them to take action against the violation of human rights and freedoms. Article 38(2) further strengthens the role of human rights defenders by guaranteeing the civic rights of Ugandans, including their participation in peaceful activities to influence government policies through civic organizations.

As numerous reports have documented, the space for civic engagement is shrinking nationwide. Government, political leaders, security organs, and unfortunately, corporate actors are increasingly restricting fundamental freedoms and repressing any form of dissent. In the context of political, social, and economic development, many Ugandans are being tortured, detained, and tried in military courts, among other injustices. Despite these threats, Ugandans must remain courageous to create an environment where inherent rights can be enjoyed.

Many challenges faced by ordinary Ugandans are being showcased in the ongoing exhibitions led by Jim Spire Ssentongo, Godwin Toko, Agatha Atuhaire, the renowned Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, and others. These individuals play a crucial role in holding the State and non-state actors accountable, ensuring not only the protection but also the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Uganda. This aligns with the mandate of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHCR), development partners, and other agencies. However, more brave Ugandans are needed to hold government institutions accountable.

In the context of development projects, community members and individuals expressing concerns, opinions, or sharing information are often threatened, criminalized, attacked, and even murdered. These reprisals and threats send a chilling message to the wider community, limiting opportunities for participation and engagement, and ultimately jeopardizing the success of the project itself. This explains why Uganda’s oil projects struggle to secure funders and insurers.

To build a Uganda that guarantees the enjoyment of all inherent rights across political, economic, social, and cultural spheres, all Ugandans must recognize that the promotion and protection of human rights is a shared responsibility. Despite victimization and various forms of intimidation from the state and state organs against those speaking out on human rights abuses, we must unite with the exhibitors as all Ugandans. Together, we can impose specific obligations to ensure that our communities and marginalized groups have the information, resources, protection, and power to shape our country, access social amenities, participate in, or oppose development activities, and hold development financiers, government, and companies accountable. With collective efforts, we can build a Uganda where individuals, communities, groups, and peoples can exercise their fundamental human rights, determine and pursue their own priorities regarding their lives, futures, lands, and natural resources. ALL POWER BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE WHO SHALL EXERCISE THEIR SOVEREIGNTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION.

The writer Aryampa Brighton is a lawyer and Chief Executive Officer, Youth for Green Communities (YGC). aryampa.brighton@gmail.com / baryampa@ygcug.org