Security and Rule of Law - Uganda
Security and Rule of Law, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, is one of the Dutch foreign policy priorities and aims to “promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”.
Country Profile
Image: ©AIIJ
Uganda is a republic. Since its independence from Britain in 1962, Uganda has not had a peaceful transition of power. Its current President Yoweri Museveni has been in power since 1986. Since 2005 there has been no limit on the number of terms a President may serve, and in 2021 he was re-elected for another 5 years.
Civil Society and the media are relatively free with several media houses being privately-owned but the civic space is shrinking and subject to constant restrictions. Corruption is also a major issue (Uganda ranks 142 on the corruption index of Transparency International), which has a big impact on public trust in the government institutions.
Civil Society and the media are relatively free with several media houses being privately-owned but the civic space is shrinking and subject to constant restrictions. Corruption is also a major issue (Uganda ranks 142 on the corruption index of Transparency International), which has a big impact on public trust in the government institutions.
The Dutch policy framework & the Embassy’s focus
Security and Rule of Law, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, is one of the Dutch foreign policy priorities and aims to “promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”.
To achieve that, the Rule of Law Portfolio of the Embassy runs several projects that include the following:
To achieve that, the Rule of Law Portfolio of the Embassy runs several projects that include the following:
Strengthening Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme with UNODC
Image: Miners Rights Conference ©EKN
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Programme Office in Uganda is implementing a five-year (2022 - 2027) Strengthening Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Uganda programme aimed at enhancing equitable access to justice and strengthening responses to counter organized crime in Uganda.
Launched in November 2022, the overall objective of the programme is to contribute to the strengthening of the rule of law through crime prevention and the promotion of effective, fair, humane, and accountable criminal justice systems in line with the United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice and other relevant international instruments.
Launched in November 2022, the overall objective of the programme is to contribute to the strengthening of the rule of law through crime prevention and the promotion of effective, fair, humane, and accountable criminal justice systems in line with the United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice and other relevant international instruments.
Strenghten Democrating Values, Promoting Civic Spaces and Human Rights
Image: Civil Society © EKN
The Netherlands Embassy in partnership with other development partners, is contributing to a programme that seeks to support the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): #5 on gender equality; #10 on reduced inequalities; # 13 on climate action; #16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions; and #17 on partnerships for the goals.
The Programme running from 2023-2027 is in three intervention areas of strengthening of accountability, enhancement of civic engagement and promotion and protection of rights aimed at strengthening democratic values and protecting and promoting civic space and human rights. By promoting transparency, educating citizens about their rights, and fostering a culture of accountability, we can lay the foundation for a more just and equitable society.
The Programme running from 2023-2027 is in three intervention areas of strengthening of accountability, enhancement of civic engagement and promotion and protection of rights aimed at strengthening democratic values and protecting and promoting civic space and human rights. By promoting transparency, educating citizens about their rights, and fostering a culture of accountability, we can lay the foundation for a more just and equitable society.
Human Rights Defenders Safety & Capacity (DefendDefenders)
Accelerating Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) safety and capacity for greater resilience and effective fulfillment is a project the Embassy is proud to collaborate in with DefendDefenders. The objective is to safeguard human rights and promote peace and stability in the region.
The project seeks to enhance availability, accessibility, and utilisation of emergency and medium-term protection services to HRDs at risk; strengthen policy influence and advocacy engagements at the global, African, sub-regional, and national level for HRD safety; and improve capacity of national coalitions, organisations and individual HRDs to effectively do their work, respond and mitigate imminent risks and threats.
Together we remain committed to supporting DefendDefenders’ efforts to protect and empower defenders, ensuring their invaluable work continues to make a positive impact.
The project seeks to enhance availability, accessibility, and utilisation of emergency and medium-term protection services to HRDs at risk; strengthen policy influence and advocacy engagements at the global, African, sub-regional, and national level for HRD safety; and improve capacity of national coalitions, organisations and individual HRDs to effectively do their work, respond and mitigate imminent risks and threats.
Together we remain committed to supporting DefendDefenders’ efforts to protect and empower defenders, ensuring their invaluable work continues to make a positive impact.
From Access to Equality (FATE Project)
Image: FATE Project ©ASF
In a bid to promote SDG 16.3, the Access to Justice Conference 2019 made concrete commitments to foster access to justice for all. The Netherlands pledged to double the target for the number of people who will obtain access to justice through Dutch development assistance by 2020; half of whom would be women hence the project From Access to Equality (FATE) project.
The FATE project (April 2021 –March 2025) is aimed at empowering women and girls to pursue justice in an environment that serves their needs. It contributes directly to the SDG 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls), 10 (Reduce inequality within and among countries) and 16 (Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels). The project is being implemented in Northern, Eastern and Western Uganda by ASF, Penal Reform International (PRI), UWONET and Barefoot Law.
The FATE project (April 2021 –March 2025) is aimed at empowering women and girls to pursue justice in an environment that serves their needs. It contributes directly to the SDG 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls), 10 (Reduce inequality within and among countries) and 16 (Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels). The project is being implemented in Northern, Eastern and Western Uganda by ASF, Penal Reform International (PRI), UWONET and Barefoot Law.