Freedom of information and expression, Rights of assembly and association and the human rights and rule of law dimensions of civic space are restricted and civil society organizations recommends for collective voice approach to improve the civic space and ensure there is continued participation of citizens.
During the launch of the Uganda’s civic index 2022 report the mission director United State Agency for International Development USAID Richard Nelson urged government to work with civil society organization because it is a resource that helps it have better visibility on what is on ground and were to improve through the information it provides.
National Coalition of Human rights defenders in Uganda has launched and disseminated findings from a civic space index report 2022 which indicates that 86.9% of the people rank human rights and rule of law as the most violated among the civic space dimensions.
This was followed by the rights to information and freedom of expression where 77.4% of the respondents said media freedoms although guaranteed by law are not respected in practice.
Looking at whether where Uganda is headed in right direction in protection of human rights and rule of law, 73.3% of respondents felt that Uganda was headed in wrong direction.
The report also ranks Uganda police force as the least un trusted institution followed by NGO bureau, UCC as well as the director of prosecution and magistrates’ courts under the judiciary in Uganda.
Uganda has taken numerous strides towards improving civic and human rights, these are however over shadowed by the worsening human abuses, adoption of draconian laws and imposition of regulations that suppress civil society actors.
The report recommends that government listens to the citizens, review and amends the restrictive provisions on several legal instruments and civil society organizations focus on creation of local links in the grassroots.
