Uganda Human Rights Commission
{{Short description|Ugandan government agency}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Politics of Uganda}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name = Uganda Human Rights Commission
|nativename = UHRC
|motto =
|seal =
|seal_width = 140px
|seal_caption =
|formed = {{Start date and years ago|df=yes|1995|07|01}}
|headquarters = 4929 Buganda Road
Kampala, Uganda
|employees =
|budget =
|chief1_name = Vacant{{cite web|title=UHRC Boss Med Kaggwa Is Dead |date=20 November 2019 | url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/UHRC-boss-Med-Kaggwa-dead/688334-5355432-h7o908z/index.html |access-date=24 November 2019 |newspaper=Daily Monitor |author=Ephraim Kasozi | place=Kampala}}
|chief1_position = Chairman
|chief2_name =
|chief2_position =
|website = [https://www.uhrc.ug/ Homepage]
|footnotes =
}}
The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) serves to monitor and advance human rights in Uganda. The UHRC is a body established under the 1995 Constitution Article 51 under the Bill of Rights found in Chapter four of the Constitution. It is based on the Paris Principles which are the guidelines for the establishment of a national human rights institution. Its mandate is spelled out in Article 52 of the Constitution.{{cite web|date=November 2019 |url=http://askyourgov.ug/body/uhrc |title=Uganda Human Rights Commission: A Public Agency, Also Called UHRC | publisher=Ask Your Government Uganda |access-date=24 November 2019 |author=Government of Uganda |place=Kampala}}
Location
The national headquarters of UHRC are located at 4929 Buganda Road, on Nakasero Hill, in Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.{{google maps| url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/0%C2%B019'05.0%22N+32%C2%B034'32.0%22E/@0.324101,32.5821359,3103m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d0.3180556!4d32.5755556 | title=Location of the Headquarters of Uganda Human Rights Commission |access-date=24 November 2019}}
Composition
The Commission is composed of a Chairperson, and not less than three other persons, appointed by the President with the approval of Parliament. As of 2009, there were seven commissioners. The Chairperson at that time was the late Meddie Kaggwa (1955–2019). Members of the Commission have to be persons of high moral character and proven integrity, although Commissioner Jacklet Atuhaire has been accused of attempted murder{{Cite web |last=Aine |first=Kim |date=2023-04-12 |title=Inside Story: How ISO Spy, Olwedo, was Shot at Ex MP Jacklet Atuhaire’s House |url=https://chimpreports.com/inside-story-how-iso-spy-olwedo-was-shot-at-ex-mp-jacklet-atuhaires-house/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=ChimpReports |language=en-US}} and chairlady Wangadya reported that some commissioners carry guns.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-28 |title=Some of my commissioners carry guns - UHRC boss |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/video/some-of-my-commissioners-carry-guns-uhrc-boss-4215944 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Monitor |language=en}} They serve for a period of six years and are eligible for re-appointment.{{cite web|date=14 September 2009 |url=http://www.uhrc.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=162&Itemid=26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510173329/http://www.uhrc.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=162&Itemid=26 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 May 2010 | title=Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC): About Us | publisher=Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) |author=UHRC | access-date=24 November 2014 |place=Kampala |format=Archived from the original on 10 May 2010}}
Commission chairperson
The current Chairperson Mariam Wangadya was appointed on Wednesday 29th September 2021, and replaced the late Meddie Ssozi Kaggwa who died in 2019.
International status
The UHRC used to be accredited with "A status" by the GANHRI, giving it enhanced access to the United Nations human rights system. It is also a member of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions. However, the GANHRI has defered re-accreditation of the UHRC citing lack of attention for systemic torture and human rights violations in Uganda.{{Cite web |title=Session reports and recommendations of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/nhri/global-alliance-national-human-rights-institutions-ganhri/session-reports-and-recommendations-sub-committee-accreditation |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=OHCHR |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.uhrc.ug Uganda Human Rights Commission Webpage]
- {{webarchive|title=National Human Rights Institutions Forum (NHRIs Global network) |date=15 September 2002| url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020915131117/http://www.nhri.net/}}
- [http://makir.mak.ac.ug/handle/10570/2100/ The role of the Uganda Human Rights Commission in promoting civic education: A case study of Mbarara and Moroto Districts] Thesis for the partial fulfilment of requirements for Master of Laws degree at Makerere University. Author: Okwong, Dorothy. Date:November 2012.
{{Authority control}}
Category:Human rights organisations based in Uganda
Category:National human rights institutions