The Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda (WHRDN-U) successfully conducted a three-day residential regional capacity-building workshop at Esella Country Hotel in Kampala from April 2nd-4th, 2025. This landmark event brought together 25 Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) from the Acholi region (Pader, Aleptong, Nwoya, Omoro, Kitgum, Gulu, and Lamwo districts) and Rwenzori region (Kabarole, Kasese, Bundibugyo, Kisoro) to strengthen their resilience, protection mechanisms, and advocacy impact.
Addressing Critical Challenges through Cross-Regional Learning
The workshop addressed the significant challenges faced by WHRDs in Uganda, including threats, violence, and systemic inequalities that hinder their advocacy efforts. Participants work on diverse human rights issues including Land Rights, Economic Rights, Disability Rights, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, HIV/AIDS Rights, Sex Workers Rights, Indigenous Rights, and Teenage mothers’ rights.
Setting Clear Expectations
The workshop began with participants sharing their expectations and aspirations. Gorreti Kajumba expressed her desire to “learn as WHRDs how can they engage with Uganda Human Rights Commission in their communities, nations and at nationwide level.”
Ataro Juliet highlighted specific challenges: “I expected to learn how to report complaints where they have been attacked because of defending Human Rights, for example women Human Rights Defenders who has been attacked for arresting clan leaders who has defiled a 09-year-old child, and men attacking GBV shelter managers in Gulu because they have given shelter to women who are trying to run away from abusive men domestic violence.”
Auma Sindy raised critical questions about evidence requirements: “If we are to report attacks against us the WHRDs for the good work we do of defending rights, what facts, what evidence and what details about this incident from WHRDs so that we receive support from Uganda Human Rights Commission?”
Day One: Institutional Engagement and Risk Assessment
Engaging with Uganda Human Rights Commission
Ms. Ruth Ssekindi, Director of Monitoring and Inspections at Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), delivered a comprehensive session on institutional engagement. She responded directly to participants’ concerns, outlining practical ways WHRDs can engage with UHRC through regional offices, writing requests, and building rapport through regular visits.
The session covered the mandate of UHRC as a constitutional body with 24 offices across Uganda, emphasizing that “As a woman human rights defendant, you have a right to speak up. If you see an injustice, speak up.”
Powerful Testimonies of Lived Experiences
Participants shared deeply personal experiences that highlighted the urgent need for protection mechanisms. Happy Paskezia shared a harrowing testimony: “A woman who had independently purchased a piece of land faced accusations from her husband that she was involved with other men who were purchasing the land for her. In a violent act driven by these allegations, he proceeded to cut off her hands.”
Another participant recounted childhood trauma: “There was a case of a child rights violation. A child was locked up in a pit latrine. At that time, I was also a child of 9 years old. When I went to UHRC regional office in Fort-Portal, I had the worst experience. The 1st day, the gate keeper chased me away. The next day I entered the gate, the staff did not believe in me and neither did they act on my case.”
Risk Assessment and Security Planning
Through interactive role plays, participants learned crucial security planning skills. The exercises demonstrated the stark difference between operating with and without proper risk assessment, covering scenarios including office break-ins, land rights demonstrations, and online media engagement.
Day Two: Equal Opportunities and Evidence-Based Advocacy
Understanding Equal Opportunities Commission
Counsel Musema from the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) explained the commission’s mandate to eliminate discrimination and marginalization. He shared compelling case studies, including: “A lady from Lamwo district, works in the US and she was the only surviving child. When her father died, the uncle said that she was not going to inherit her father’s property because she was a girl. The lady made a telephone call to the commission, a response was very swift… The case was resolved.”
Addressing Cultural Discrimination
Participants highlighted various discriminatory practices across regions. Halima Nasaka from Kasese testified: “Every recruitment favoured Bakonjo than other tribes. Most recruitment and high cadres jobs were for one ethnicity. That was a systemic issue. EOC through the directives of the tribunal, intervened.”
Other testimonies included:
- “In Tooro, a woman legally married cannot own the property upon the death of her husband”
- “Among the Bakonjo, if the girl gets a chance to go to school and thereafter becomes pregnant, she gets neglected”
- “Basongola ladies do not get education. If they reach the age of marriage, they kidnap them, and bring them back to the family to be married off”
Evidence-Based Advocacy Training
WHRDN-U staff disseminated findings from their assessment on violence against WHRDs in Uganda (2020-2024). Through role plays with media and policy makers, participants learned to present compelling evidence-based arguments for WHRD protection.
Day Three: Documentation and Moving Forward
Understanding WHRD Identity and Work
The final day focused on documentation and reporting violations. A facilitator emphasized that “this is the first report that showed that women human rights defenders were attacked for doing good work of defending human rights.”
Participants learned that being a WHRD requires no specific qualifications – they are found everywhere from community homes to online spaces, hospitals to markets, doing crucial work including counseling survivors, advocating for policies, providing shelter services, and fighting harmful cultural practices.
Network Protection Services
The workshop highlighted WHRDN-U’s comprehensive protection approach:
One participant testified: “I received a rapid response when our office was broken into. The network enhanced the physical security. I also received a referral for protection. The network also wrote to frontline human rights and they supported me with money for office relocation.”
Another shared: “I received 500,000 for wellness and self-care when I was attacked online that I was promoting sex work.”
Key Successes and Participant Feedback
The workshop achieved remarkable success in building capacity and fostering solidarity. Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive:
Day One Feedback: Ataro Juliet Olal reflected: “Participants increased their awareness on risk assessment and security planning and learnt computer security.”
Fiona Ladwar shared: “Before the workshop I was not minding about my body and my mental health, now I feel more rejuvenated.”
Tuhaise Marygrace noted: “This workshop has opened my eyes to how connected our well-being is to our human rights work.”
Final Reflections: Ataro Juliet Olal concluded: “It was a great initiative to make me part of the Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) to attend the 3 days Workshop. I will continue to play a crucial role in advocating for WHRDs that often face significant risks in their work. Especially the training on case incidence reporting that equipped me with the necessary skills to document violations effectively, referral to seek justice, and amplify their voice.”
Mulhumbira Dinah emphasized: “After attending the session on documenting and reporting violations, now feel equipped to document and report threats safely.”
Murungi Beatrice captured the spirit of solidarity: “I have learnt that we cannot work in isolation, we need each other and that there is strength in numbers.”
Gorret Kajumba shared a powerful lesson: “Some of us as WHRDs our advocacy initiatives do not lead to positive actions because all along we never used data collected to share recommendations to engage in advocacy… I remember in my village 15 women activists we held a meeting with our Member of Parliament to help us deal with increasing child marriage. He denied our message because she asked how many girls were out of school, which sub counties and who the perpetrators were and we did not have the facts right.”
Action Plan and Moving Forward
The workshop concluded with concrete commitments:
UHRC Commitments:
- Include partner organizations in regional offices
- Strengthen collaboration with WHRDs across regions
WHRDN-U Actions:
- Official partnership requests to UHRC and EOC
- Regional dissemination of the assessment report in Acholi (Pader) and Rwenzori (Kabarole)
WHRD Commitments:
- Regular engagement with UHRC regional offices
- Improved documentation and reporting of violations
- Continued advocacy with evidence-based approaches
Looking Ahead
This workshop represents a significant milestone in strengthening the capacity and protection of WHRDs across Uganda. By bringing together voices from diverse regions and backgrounds, fostering institutional partnerships, and building concrete skills in risk assessment, advocacy, and documentation, WHRDN-U has created a foundation for more effective and safer human rights work.
The testimonies shared throughout the workshop underscore both the challenges faced by WHRDs and their unwavering commitment to justice. As they return to their communities equipped with new knowledge, stronger networks, and enhanced protection mechanisms, these defenders continue the vital work of promoting human rights for all Ugandans.
The path forward requires sustained collaboration between WHRDs, institutional partners like UHRC and EOC, and continued investment in capacity building. Through such efforts, the vision of a Uganda where all human rights defenders can work safely and effectively moves closer to reality.
Published by Brenda Kugonza