HRCU WEEKLY UPDATE AND ANALYSIS | 19TH TO 25TH JANUARY 2026
Dear Human Rights Defenders and Partners,
As we commence a new week, the Human Rights Centre Uganda (HRCU) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to promoting justice, protecting human dignity, and realising fundamental human rights for all. Our work is guided by integrity, informed by empathy, and grounded in a steadfast respect for the rule of law.
In the face of evolving challenges and emerging opportunities, we urge all partners and stakeholders to remain vigilant, engaged, and united in purpose. Through strengthened collaboration, constructive dialogue, and sustained commitment, we can advance resilient, rights-based strategies that empower communities and reinforce the well-being of every individual.
Below is a curated digest providing a thoughtful, contextual analysis of the key developments affecting human rights defenders in Uganda over the past week. We extend our deepest appreciation for your continued dedication, partnership, and unwavering commitment to fostering a just, inclusive, and rights-respecting Uganda.
NATIONAL UPDATES
MUSEVENI OUTLINES PRIORITIES FOR 7TH TERM
According to Daily Monitor News, President-elect Yoweri Museveni has laid his cards on the table, outlining key priorities for the next five years. He said his seventh term will zero in on free education, improved healthcare, job creation, poverty eradication, and an intensified fight against corruption.
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UGANDANS SPEAK ON MUSEVENI SECURING WIN
Ugandans across the country expressed mixed reactions yesterday following President Museveni’s declaration as the winner of the January 15 presidential elections, per Daily Monitor News.
Source:
https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/ugandans-speak-on-museveni-securing-win-5330884#story
CHIEF JUSTICE OWINY-DOLLO RETIRES AS JUDICIARY FACES TRANSITION
As reported by Daily Monitor News, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has officially retired after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70, leaving the Judiciary.
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NEW CHIEF JUSTICE ZEIJA SWORN
According to Daily Monitor News,Dr.Flavian Zeija was on Saturday installed as the country’s 11th Chief Justice following the fastest appointment process in the Judiciary’s recent history.
Source:
https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/new-chief-justice-zeija-sworn-in-5338222
GOVT MAINTAINS SOCIAL MEDIA RESTRICTIONS
According to Nile Post News,The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has said that although public internet access has been fully restored across the country, restrictions on social media and over-the-top (OTT) applications will remain in place until further notice.
Source:
https://nilepost.co.ug/news/314672/govt-maintains-social-media-restrictions
LAWYERS CHALLENGE INTERNET SHUTDOWN, SEEK SHS100M COMPENSATION AND DATA REFUNDS
Two lawyers have filed a petition in the High Court challenging the legality of the nationwide internet shutdown imposed between January 13 and January 18, arguing that it violated multiple constitutional rights and caused significant personal, professional, and economic harm, as reported by Nile Post News.
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UGANDAN OPPOSITION LEADER BESIGYE IN CRITICAL CONDITION, PARTY SAYS
As reported by African News, the health of jailed Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye is failing, his party said on Tuesday, after he was driven overnight to a medical facility in the capital of Kampala.
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REGIONAL UPDATES
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY SEVERE FLOODING IN MOZAMBIQUE, UN SAYS
According to African News, The United Nations says more than a half-million people have been affected by flooding in southern and central Mozambique.
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CONGOLESE ARMED FORCES RETAKE CONTROL OF UVIRA AFTER M23 WITHDRAWAL
As reported by African News,The Congolese army says it has retaken control of south kivu city of Uvira after the withdrawal of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.
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SUDAN: AID ARRIVES IN PORT SUDAN AS WAR RAGES ON
As the war in Sudan rages on, the humanitarian situation on the ground is becoming increasingly dire. Desperately-needed aid containing food supplies, sent by a Turkish-Qatari initiative, has arrived in Port Sudan as per African News.
Source:
https://www.africanews.com/2026/01/20/sudan-aid-arrives-in-port-sudan-as-war-rages-on/
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES
SYRIA AGREES CEASEFIRE WITH KURDISH-LED FORCES AFTER TWO WEEKS OF CLASHES
According to BBC News, The Syrian government has announced an immediate nationwide ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), taking almost full control of the country, Syrian state media says.
Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gwk37ewvwo
SEVEN MORE COUNTRIES AGREE TO JOIN TRUMP'S BOARD OF PEACE
Seven countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt say they will join US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, according to a joint statement. They will join Israel, which also publicly confirmed its participation earlier, per BBC News.
Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8jek4vv8ko
US WITHDRAWS FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
According to Reuters News,The United States officially left the World Health Organization on Thursday after a year of warnings that doing so would hurt public health in the U.S. and globally, saying its decision reflected failures in the U.N. health agency's management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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LORDS BACK UK SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR UNDER-16S
As reported by BBC News,The House of Lords has backed a move to ban under-16s in the UK from social media platforms.By 261 votes to 150, opposition peers voted to support a ban through an amendment to the government's schools bill.
Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz0pnekxpn8o
WEEK'S ANALYSIS
1.
1. President Museveni’s seventh-term priorities focus on economic growth, poverty reduction, and improved public services, including education, healthcare, and support for farmers and investors. These priorities are grounded in the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, Articles 30 (Right to education) and 34 (Right to health services), which obliges the State to progressively realize socio-economic rights. Implementation must also comply with the Anti-Corruption Act, 2009, Cap 113, to safeguard public resources and ensure transparency.
2. Uganda’s election results, declaring Museveni the winner, prompted diverse reactions and opposition challenges invoking Articles 29 (Freedom of expression, assembly, and association) and 38 (Political rights) of the Constitution of Uganda, 1995. Judicial oversight is crucial to ensure elections comply with the law, as seen in Unwanted Witness & Article 19 v Attorney General, Constitutional Petition No. 16 of 2012, which emphasized that restrictions on rights must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate. The Electoral Commission Act, Cap 140, 1997 provides the legal framework for conducting elections fairly. Courts must balance public order and fundamental freedoms to protect constitutional democracy.
3. The retirement of Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo and the swearing-in of Chief Justice Zeija under Articles 133(1) and 148 of the Constitution of Uganda, 1995 highlight judicial independence under Article 128, guided by the Judicature Act, Cap 13, 2000. The judiciary has safeguarded rights in sensitive matters, as in Attorney General v Major General David Tinyefuza (Constitutional Appeal No. 1 of 1997), and the State’s duty to ensure access to justice is affirmed in Uganda Law Society v Attorney General (Constitutional Petition No. 2 of 2002). Leadership transitions must remain impartial to preserve public confidence.
4. The government’s social media restrictions and prior internet shutdowns are challenged under Articles 29 and 41 of the Constitution of Uganda, 1995, which guarantee freedom of expression and access to information. Petitioners seek compensation for losses due to arbitrary restrictions, emphasising that limitations must meet constitutional proportionality tests. The case Unwanted Witness & Article 19 v Attorney General, Constitutional Petition No. 16 of 2012, confirmed that rights may be restricted in public interest but only lawfully and proportionately. Legal review ensures executive measures do not undermine fundamental freedoms.
5. The lawyers’ challenge to the internet shutdown emphasises that restrictions on rights must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate. Article 43 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, guarantees the right to use communication and access information, while Article 44 allows restrictions only if justified in the public interest. In Unwanted Witness & Article 19 v Attorney General [2012] UGSC 16, Constitutional Petition No. 16 of 2012, the Supreme Court held that fundamental rights may only be limited when legally justified and proportionate. Judicial review is essential to prevent arbitrary interference with constitutional freedoms.
6. Opposition leader Kizza Besigye’s critical health while in custody raises questions under Articles 22 (Protection of personal liberty) and 28 (Right to fair trial) of the Constitution of Uganda, 1995. International law obligations also apply, including Article 7 (Freedom from torture) and Article 9 (Right to liberty) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 (ICCPR). Supreme Court rulings, such as the judgment prohibiting civilian trials in military courts, highlight courts’ authority to uphold detainee rights. Legal action may ensure medical care and procedural protections are respected.
7. Severe flooding in Mozambique has displaced hundreds of thousands, implicating domestic and international legal obligations, including Mozambique’s Disaster Risk Management Law, 2014, No. 18/2014, and humanitarian principles under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 1981, Articles 16 and 18. Governments must ensure life, safety, and equitable aid for affected populations. International humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949, governs the protection of civilians and the delivery of relief. Non-discrimination and protection of vulnerable groups are legally mandated.
8. The Congolese forces retaking Uvira after the M23 withdrawal reflects the legal obligation under Article 3 of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2006, to maintain territorial integrity and protect civilians. Compliance with Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, 1949, and customary international humanitarian law ensures protection of non-combatants. The state must enforce accountability for violations and prevent human rights abuses. Past international rulings emphasise prosecution for war crimes and adherence to humanitarian norms.
9. In Sudan, aid arriving in Port Sudan amid conflict demonstrates obligations under Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Law, 2019, Article 4, and International Humanitarian Law (Geneva Conventions, 1949), requiring the provision of food, medical care, and shelter for affected populations. Aid must be distributed equitably and non-discriminatorily. States and humanitarian actors are legally accountable for access to essential services. Protection of life and dignity during emergencies is a binding legal obligation.
10.Syria’s ceasefire agreement with Kurdish-led forces invokes international legal principles under Customary International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions, 1949, emphasizing civilian protection. Compliance with ceasefire terms is legally binding, and violations can incur accountability for war crimes. Courts and international monitoring mechanisms enforce adherence. Legal frameworks prioritize civilian safety, property protection, and adherence to conflict resolution agreements.
11.Seven countries agreeing to join a peace-focused international board established by President Donald Trump reflects voluntary state participation in conflict prevention and international cooperation. Such agreements are guided by principles under the Charter of the United Nations, 1945, Articles 1(1), 1(3), and 2(4), which obligate states to promote peace, resolve disputes by peaceful means, and refrain from threats or use of force. While participation is voluntary, states are bound under customary international law to uphold human rights, respect sovereignty, and comply with obligations under international humanitarian law during peace operations. Legal mechanisms, including reporting and accountability to the United Nations, provide oversight to ensure that cooperation contributes to peace, security, and the protection of civilians.
12.The United States withdrawal from the World Health Organization is an exercise of presidential authority under Article 2, Section 2 of the United States Constitution, upheld in Zivotofsky vs Kerry, 576 United States 1 (2015). It affects global health cooperation under the World Health Organization Constitution (1946), with pacta sunt servanda in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969), emphasising treaty obligations. United States courts, as in Missouri versus Holland, 252 United States 416 (1920), typically defer to the executive in foreign affairs. The move is legally permissible but may weaken international health coordination.
13. The United Kingdom’s social media ban for under-16s aligns with domestic child protection law under the Children and Families Act 2014, Sections 10–12, and international law under Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989, ensuring the welfare and protection of minors. Regulatory oversight ensures online safety and addresses risks to mental health and privacy. The law balances the protection of children with freedom of expression online. Enforcement mechanisms are legally mandated and proportionate to the risks involved.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT. MORE UPDATES NEXT WEEK!
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