We work to defend and promote the freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly to safeguard civic space. Learn more about what is at stake and what we are focused on below.
The year when the Constitution of Uganda was promulgated. It provides legal protection for the freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
Despite the constitutional guarantees, Uganda’s civic space is often classified as “Repressed” by Freedom House due to significant restrictions on freedom of association, assembly & expression.
The number of laws that Chapter Four Uganda is currently challenging in the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Uganda for infringing on civic space rights.
Civic space is the environment—physical, digital, legal, and social—that allows people to freely express themselves, associate, assemble peacefully, and participate in public life and governance.
Civic space is the oxygen of democracy, human rights, and social justice.
It enables citizens to organise, monitor government programs, share their opinions on issues of public interest, voice their concerns, and advocate for change.
Civic space strengthens democracy and makes governance more representative.
Civic space in Uganda faces several threats, including restrictive and vague laws, harassment of activists, censorship, limitations on NGO registration and operations, reprisal attacks, and violence against human rights defenders and pro-democracy actors.
Chapter Four works to defend the freedom of individuals and groups to join or form registered or unregistered organisations, retain their autonomy and independence in their operations, and access resources to support their work.
Chapter Four works to defend the right to express your thoughts, opinions, and ideas without fear of government censorship or punishment. This includes freedom of the press, digital freedoms, artistic freedom, and expression during assemblies and protests.
We defend the right of people to peacefully gather and hold public meetings, marches, demonstrations, online protests using hashtags, and other forms of peaceful protests, and to petition to ensure that their concerns are heard.
Civic space in Uganda is increasingly constrained, particularly impacting freedoms of peaceful assembly, association, and expression. Despite constitutional protections, citizens and civil society face systematic harassment, criminalization of dissent, and restrictive laws that limit their ability to organize, peacefully protest, and speak freely out.
The government often uses restrictive laws like the Public Order Management Act, the Computer Misuse Act, and sections of the Penal Code Act to suppress protests and online expression. Media and reports document incidents of unlawful arrests, prolonged detentions, and bans on demonstrations, creating a climate of fear and self-censorship. Media freedoms are also under pressure, with numerous violations against journalists and censorship of content. Civil society organizations encounter bureaucratic hurdles, regulatory restrictions, and surveillance that hinder their work.
Despite these challenges, activists and defenders continue advocating for inclusive democratic participation and holding the government accountable.
