In a move that has drawn sharp criticism from campaigners and activists, Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, has forced the closure of the United Nations human rights office within the country. The capital’s main office ceased operations over the weekend, while field offices in Gulu and Moroto had already shuttered earlier in the summer due to the government’s decision not to renew the agency’s operating agreement.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed “regret” as he announced the closures, highlighting the agency’s 18-year commitment to promoting and safeguarding the human rights of Ugandans. This development unfolds against the backdrop of mounting concerns regarding human rights violations, magnified by the recent enactment of an anti-LGBTQ+ bill that sanctions the death penalty for certain homosexual acts.
Türk underscored his apprehension about Uganda’s human rights situation, particularly in light of the upcoming 2026 elections where Museveni is expected to seek re-election. He pointed to the progressively antagonistic environment within which activists and journalists operate. Notably, the majority of the 54 non-governmental organizations that faced suspension of operations in Uganda in August 2021 remain inoperative.
A UN report, released on 26 July, had expressed alarm over recurring instances of arbitrary arrests and detentions targeting political dissidents, journalists, legal practitioners, and human rights defenders. The report also condemned instances of persecution founded on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The decision to shutter the UN offices has been widely criticized by human rights and advocacy groups within Uganda. Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, a prominent lesbian activist, lamented the lack of a vigilant watchdog against President Museveni’s abuses. Steven Kabuye, co-executive director of Truth to LGBTQ, decried the closure as exacerbating Uganda’s deficiency in upholding human rights, particularly for LGBTQI+ citizens.
Oryem Nyeko of Human Rights Watch Africa division labeled the move a “significant setback” as numerous entities, including the Uganda Human Rights Commission, relied on UN support. Livingstone Sewanyana from the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative urged Ugandans to step up in the face of this void, advocating for citizens to demand the restoration of their rights.