“Whenever there is a suggestion or possibility that the civil and political rights of any individuals have been infringed, the first step for any human rights activists and defender ought to be to ascertain the facts. From a solid foundation of facts, other interventions can then follow.”

Since its inception seventeen years ago, FHRI embarked on a continuous process to advocate for the end to human rights abuses in Uganda. To this effect, in 1998 FHRI began its Human Rights Research, Monitoring and Documentation Project. The project that has evolved into a Research Division focuses on investigating, monitoring, documenting and reporting key human rights issues across Uganda with an aim of enhancing the flow of information as well as creating awareness on the occurrence of critical human rights issues by developing tools for sustained human rights observance. The areas of focus include freedom of expression, association and assembly including the media; extra-judicial executions; administration of justice; police and prison conditions; torture; juvenile justice; electoral process; rights of women, children, disabled, minorities and refugees; police accountability; labour rights; right to health; and the application of the death penalty within the criminal justice system in Uganda. The research findings reflect the cross cutting issues of gender, HIV/AIDS, child labour and the conditions of the internally displaced persons and refugees. This creates a basis for reform and promotion of discussion of strategies to enhance respect for human rights in Uganda. Under the ending 2009 - 2011 programme the Research Division focused on the following major activities:

· Research and documentation of human rights violations,

· Treaty Reporting,

· Lower Level Platform, and

· Election Observation.

Activities:

i. Research and Documentation of human rights violations

Objective:

“To monitor and document human rights practices in order to promote dialogue and respect for human rights and democratic development in Uganda.”

Thematic and Annual Country Human Rights Status reports:

Uganda subscribes to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 and is signatory to regional and international human rights standards. These instruments create obligations to respect, protect, promote and fulfil human rights. Given Uganda’s turbulent past and lack of a human rights and constitutional culture there is a need to monitor human rights practices to ensure that transgressions are identified, exposed and remedial measures are taken. Building on its ten-year track record of human rights monitoring, In the 2009 – 2011 programme, FHRI earmarked five themes that require interrogation as a measure of bridging gaps in Uganda’s human rights record. These are; police accountability, juvenile justice, labour rights, right to health and rights of the Persons With Disabilities. These are grey areas that rank poorly in human rights ratings of the country. With research as an integral part of its campaign for human rights, FHRI has conducted fact finding missions, investigated critical human rights issues and produced annual country human rights status reports examining the status of various rights in Uganda. Systematic monitoring and documenting of state practices to ensure realization of these rights is a major preoccupation of FHRI. FHRI therefore continued to carry out research and advocacy on a periodic basis using a thematic approach.

In the current programme, two thematic reports are released each year. The thematic reports are used as tools for lobbying and advocacy on issues raised using the recommendations made to the state organs.

ii. Treaty Reporting

Objective:

“To promote international dialogue on human rights practices and the democratization process in Uganda.”

Uganda is party to several regional and international human rights instruments. In 1995, Uganda promulgated a national constitution that makes provision for human rights guarantees as well.

The treaty reporting function ensures that state practices are monitored and a dialogue with treaty monitoring bodies is supported and as much as possible all legislation enacted is in conformity with agreed human rights standards. Its goal is to promote respect for and implementation of international human rights standards at the national level in Uganda. FHRI will produce alternative reports during the project period on three instruments: the ICCPR, UN CAT and ACHPR. The treaty monitoring function includes research; follow up of concluding observations of treaty bodies and contribution to State Party reports.

FHRI therefore promotes the function of treaty reporting by working closely with the Uganda Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Country Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in execution of this function given the premier mandate they hold with respect to treaty compliance.

With the observer status before the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, and the growing importance of treaty reporting for nine years FHRI has consistently submitted reports. This function includes participation in regular sessions of the UN Human Rights Council, the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights and occasionally the African Court on Human Rights sessions either to observe proceedings or submit reports or make statements as the case may be with the objective of sharing experiences and expertise on human rights as well as tapping into the global human rights agenda to develop a culture of regular reporting. The conclusions and observations of the treaty bodies are publicized to the public and steps taken to lobby parliament and other relevant bodies to take action.

iii. Lower Level Platform

Objectives:

• To disseminate the findings of the report published by FHRI titled: “Right to HealthCare in Uganda; Jan- June  2010’;
• To promote dialogue and local level response among district leaders, district health officers, medical personnel, community based and national civil society groups on key challenges in the delivery of health services in Uganda and;
• To create awareness on current initiatives being undertaken to address the challenges in the sector.  

FHRI convened the first Lower Level Platform (LLP) under the theme: ‘Ensuring access to quality health care for all Ugandans.’ The LLP, the first in a series of three was held in Mpigi district at Wilsons Inn from 19^th – 21^st July 2011. The second of its kind was held at Source of the Nile Hotel Jinja between 26^th October to 28^th October 2011.

iv. Uganda National Elections Assessment and Monitoring Project 2011.

Objectives:

“To advocate for electoral reforms in the run up to the 2011 elections”

“To monitor human rights violations during the election process with a view of promoting compliance with principles of free and fair elections.”

FHRI engaged in a number of activities to monitor and ensure that the electoral processes during the 2001 and 2006 elections conformed to the standards of free and fair elections. The general elections conducted in 2001 and 2006 were marred by multiple election mal practices that even led to the contest of the election results of the 2006 elections. Following the recommendations made for electoral reforms after the 2001 and 2006 elections, in 2008 FHRI undertook a study on the progress made to effect electoral reforms in a report titled “ Electoral reforms in Uganda”.

In order to consolidate achievements of the Uganda National Elections Monitoring and Assessment Project (UNELAMP) and work done in 2005/2006 under the Election Observation component, FHRI monitored the 2011 General Elections and events in the run up thereof with the aim of promoting compliance with principles of free and fair elections. FHRI also monitored a series of national processes bordering elections including update of the national voter registers and registration of new voters, display of the voter registers, party primaries including election of party flag bearers, accreditation of election observers and the conduct of civic education by the civil society groups and Electoral Commission. This resulted into the launch of a report titled: ‘Uganda: Levelling the Playing Field; The Race to 2011’ on 10^th December 2010 to commemorate the International Human Rights Day.

The diversity of FHRI’s interventions in monitoring the election process created the necessary momentum for civil society to engage and influence the democratization process in Uganda. There was a noticeable improvement in the management of the electoral process compared to 2006; a stronger civil society and increased advocacy due to the centrality of FHRI actions and a revised roadmap for 2011 general elections was issued by Electoral Commission.