You would expect them to be heroines for the part they play in fighting for women rights but alas!!

Now, the Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda (WHRDN-U) are seeking protection from the government and non-state actors arguing that their lives are in danger.

They say they work under discrimination, impunity, rights violation which puts their integrity and ability to support human rights at risk.

Addressing the media on November 24, at Piato Restaurant in Kampala, WHRDN-U executive director, Brenda Kugonza, emphasized that the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders stipulates: Each State has a primary responsibility and duty to protect, promote and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms. 

“Some of the activists have been intimidated, their offices broken into, arrested, beaten, verbally and sexually assaulted and harassed online among others. 

We have gone to the police, courts and other authorities when we are attacked, but justice has not been served. Our work is rendered irrelevant to the community. In fact, for all the cases that we have reported, we have never received a conclusive report,” Kugonza said.

Kugonza cited Article 20 (2) of the Constitution of Uganda which ensures protection for them. It states that the rights and freedoms of the individual and groups enshrined in this chapter shall be respected, upheld and promoted by all organs and agencies of Government and by all persons.

“The government, therefore, has the responsibility to protect human rights defenders and prevent any violations of their rights,” she said.

Kugonza said they have recorded more than 80 cases of attacks on human rights defenders across the country.

“We want a safe environment for the defenders so that we can participate and defend the rights of people freely,” she said.

According to Kugonza, WHRDN-U picked a local theme for this year: “Our voices, our power, we demand protection.”

She explained that the theme was based on the experiences of members in the execution of their mandate. 

She cited some legislations that include the Public Order and Management Act (POMA), Anti-Pornography Act and NGO Registration Act among others that curtail their activities. These are some of the laws that have been enacted and were infringing on fundamental rights.

She appealed to the government to prevent actions by communities, companies, individuals from State and non-state actors that threaten to attack or try to hamper their work.

Stakeholders speak out

State minister for gender and culture Peace Mutuuzo revealed that at least 168 people died last year due to GBV.

Mutuuzo called for an urgent need to end GBV in homes and communities, saying that statistics have shown that the government had lost sh78b in treating and managing GBV cases in the last three years.

High Court Judge David Batema believes the struggle for women’s rights defenders and kicking out SGBV is not for women only but everyone. 

Dr Zahara Nampewo, the executive director of Human Rights and Peace Center said there is a need to empower women and men to talk about SGBV.

About WHRDN-U

WHRDN-U was founded in 2017 by different organizations of women that directly engaged in women rights, oil, and extractives, land rights, environmental justice, youth rights, GBV, disability rights, media, among others.

They currently operate in 11 sub-regions of Uganda which include Acholi, Albertine, Lango, Karamoja, Busoga, Central Buganda, Teso, Ankole, West Nile, Bugisu, and Rwenzori sub-region.