The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has officially announced the closure of the agency’s offices in Uganda, marking the conclusion of all operations due to the government’s decision not to extend their mandate.
Effective August 5, 2023, the UN office in Kampala officially ceased operations, as conveyed through a press release from the agency’s headquarters in Geneva.
Türk said the 18 years of productive collaboration with civil society and various stakeholders in Uganda. The engagement included working with State institutions to promote and safeguard the human rights of all Ugandans.
The timeline leading to the closure began with the shut down of sub-offices in Gulu and Moroto on June 30 and July 31, 2023, respectively.
Launched in 2006 with a specific focus on addressing human rights concerns in conflict-affected regions of Northern and North-Eastern Uganda, OHCHR’s mandate later evolved in 2009 to encompass the entire nation and all human rights issues.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the government’s decision not to renew OHCHR’s mandate, which was set to expire in March 2023. The decision was conveyed through a letter to the OHCHR head office, with the Ministry asserting that Uganda had developed the capability to monitor, advocate for, and safeguard human rights autonomously.
President Yoweri Museveni defended the move. During his state visit to South Africa in March, Museveni stated that another entity already performed the same duties as OHCHR, deeming the organization redundant.
Museveni pointed out the existence of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, a constitutional body responsible for protecting human rights, as the basis for his stance. He noted that the presence of OHCHR had led to confusion among individuals seeking a platform to voice their grievances.
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