Uganda Human Rights Commissioner Hon. Simeo Nsubuga Muwanga has urged Ugandans to embrace human rights as a foundation for dignity, equality, and community empowerment, saying the state has a duty to guarantee them for all citizens.
Speaking as guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Nansana Metro on Friday evening, Hon. Simeo Nsubuga said human rights are not privileges granted by governments but entitlements inherent to every human being. “Human rights are God-given. They cannot be taken away. The role of the state is to respect, protect, and fulfil them,” he told the gathering.
He explained that rights such as life, food, health, education, liberty, and freedom from torture are universal, indivisible, and interdependent. When one right is violated, he said, the enjoyment of others is threatened. He stressed that no right is more important than another and that all people are entitled to equal protection without discrimination.
While noting that rights can be limited under Article 43 of Uganda’s Constitution to safeguard public security, health, morality, or the rights of others, Nsubuga underlined that such restrictions must be lawful and justifiable in a free and democratic society. He also reminded citizens that rights go hand-in-hand with responsibilities, citing constitutional duties such as respect for national symbols and contributing to the common good.
The Commissioner pointed to several redress mechanisms available at national, regional, and international levels, including the UHRC Uganda Human Rights Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission-Uganda, the courts, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He encouraged communities to use these structures whenever their rights are violated.
Turning to community empowerment, Hon. Nsubuga said that knowledge, skills, and resources are essential for people to demand and defend their rights. “Empowerment is a principle of the human rights–based approach to development. Communities must be equipped with information and awareness to ensure rights are realized,” he said, adding that human rights are central to good governance and democratic growth.
He concluded by reaffirming the Uganda Human Rights Commission’s commitment to creating awareness and working with civic groups, including Rotary clubs, to promote the protection and observance of rights. “When people understand their rights, they can speak out, stand up against injustice, and build more stable and prosperous societies,” he said.
The one-hour engagement, held at 7 p.m. at the club’s meeting at HollyFarm Hotel in Nansana, was attended by Rotarians, community leaders, and guests who pledged continued collaboration with the Commission to advance rights awareness.