Uganda
Uganda should uphold its international and regional commitments to human rights and refrain from digital rights restrictions and media violations.
Uganda held its general elections in January 2021. The turbulent election was marred by unprecedented violence against the media and severe restrictions on freedom of expression, including a total internet shutdown and a social media ban. These violations followed a similar trend to the 2016 general elections, when digital rights were similarly restricted. The operational space for freedom of expression, access to information and the media has also been closing in Uganda–both online and offline–due to state restrictions since the last UPR in 2016. Laws such as the Computer Misuse Act, Press and Journalist Act and the Penal Code Act have been repeatedly weaponized by the state to silence critical voices. Online restrictions, including a 12% tax imposed on data tariffs in 2021, internet shutdowns and throttling during the 2021 general elections, and regulatory overreach on online platforms have restricted citizens’ rights, and contributed to the deterioration of Uganda’s global freedom of expression rankings.
10.77%
Households with internet access in 2020
23.71%
Individuals using internet in 2020
0
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in 2020
132/180
Press Freedom Ranking in 2022
Upr cycle
Uganda was last reviewed in January 2022.
Digital Rights and Free Expression Recommendations
Resources
Partner organisations
Over a hundred local and international human rights organisations are part of the wider Uproar programme. You can find them listed here.
Uganda cluster
The country clusters are a local working group in each Uproar target country made up of our partner organisations. The clusters are organised by local lead organisations, who then coordinate local civil society and human rights defenders with digital rights expertise to engage in national-level advocacy and campaigning.
