Uganda takes two steps forward, five steps back on digital rights

What the report says

Uganda’s digital-rights record is set to face international scrutiny at the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, where activists say the country will need to answer questions about restrictions on online expression, privacy and access to information. The Observer reports that a joint study by the Association for Progressive Communications, CIPESA and WOUGNET argues Uganda has expanded digital services in some areas, but has not matched those gains with meaningful protection for rights online.

According to the report, concerns include arrests of social media users over content critical of public figures, tighter regulation of online media, and taxes that make internet access and devices more expensive. The article also says Uganda Communications Commission directives in 2024 required online media and social media account operators to seek registration or authorization, raising fears of closure or prosecution.

The report further questions enforcement of data protection rules, citing weak oversight by the Personal Data Protection Office and examples of possible breaches involving public and private entities. It also highlights online surveillance and technology-facilitated gender-based violence, including harassment, sextortion and deepfakes, with women and young people seen as especially vulnerable.

The Observer says the review matters because it may not bring immediate punishment, but repeated criticism can damage Uganda’s diplomatic standing and weaken its ability to argue for credibility on human-rights issues. Uganda is expected to report back on progress at its next review in four years.