Dear Reader,
We are pleased to share the 17th edition of the HRAPF Spotlight Newsletter, bringing you key highlights from our work in the first quarter of 2025 (January-March). During this period, HRAPF continued its commitment to advancing human rights through our core programmes: Access to Justice, the Center on Law and Marginalisation, Health Rights and Community Outreach.
In this edition, we provide an overview of the key achievements across our programmes and share the progress made in advancing the rights of marginalised communities. We trust you will find these updates informative and valuable.
Happy reading!
ACCESS TO JUSTICE
LEGAL AID SERVICE PROVISION
HRAPF offers free legal aid services to sex workers, PWUIDs, LGBTI persons, survivors of gender based violence in refugee settlements, women, girls, and health workers in conflict with abortion laws, elderly and indigent persons with land justice issues, and women and girls living with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS.
In the first quarter, HRAPF handled a total of 441 cases, benefitting 223 persons. Of these, 208 cases involved sex workers benefitting 260 persons; 176 cases involved LGBT+ persons benefitting 214 persons; 55 cases involved PWUIDs benefiting 55 persons; 137 cases involving women and girls in conflict with abortion cases benefiting 2 persons.
Out of the cases handled in the first quarter, 158 cases were handled at the main legal aid clinic; 157 cases were handled by HRAPF trained community paralegals under the supervision of HRAPF lawyers; 116 cases were handled by the regional legal aid centers and 10 cases were handled through the specialised legal aid desks for TGNC persons and intersex persons.
In the quarter, the legal team handled a total of 19 court going cases. 12 of these were land matters; 4 involved clients living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and 3 cases involved LGBT+ persons.
DOCUMENTATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
In the first quarter, all the cases handled were properly documented and 74 incidents of human rights violations were recorded during the period. Of these, 52 were committed against LGBT+ persons; 18 against sex workers; and 4 against PWUIDs. The violations majorly took the forms of prolonged detention, arbitrary arrests, discrimination and inhumane and degrading treatment, which majorly manifested through assaults and threats of violence against the clients. The major perpetrators identified were police officers and clients of sex workers.
UPDATE ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION SINCE THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY ACT, 2023 (AHA)
This quarter marked 22 months since the #AHA23 was enacted, during which HRAPF has continued to offer specialised legal support to the LGBT community in Uganda, even amidst the significant challenges.
HRAPF handled a total of 61 cases in the month of January 2025, an increase from the 45 cases handled in December 2024. Out of the 61 cases handled, 21 cases involved actions that directly targeted people for negative treatment on the basis of their SOGIE, representing 34.4% of all the cases handled during the month of January 2025. The number of victims affected by these violations increased from 23 persons in December 2025 to 28 persons in January 2025.
In February 2025, HRAPF handled 41 cases, a reduction from the 61 cases handled in January 2025. Of the 41 cases handled, 14 cases involved actions that directly targeted people for negative treatment based on their SOGIE, representing 34.1% of all the cases handled in February.
In March 2025, HRAPF handled 49 cases, up from 41 in February. Of these, 16 cases (32.6%) involved negative treatment based on SOGIE, slightly higher than the 14 cases in February. The number of victims affected remained at 19 for both months.
LINKS TO THE FULL REPORTS BELOW
CENTER ON LAW AND MARGINALISATION
STRATEGIC LITIGATION
Six legal strategising meetings were conducted with key stakeholders, including community leaders, legal scholars, petitioners and advocates on the Supreme Court Constitutional Appeal No. 7 of 2024 (the AHA Appeal) to discuss the progress of the appeal, and to draft a scheduling memorandum and submissions in preparation for filing.
The scheduling memorandum and the written submissions in the in Supreme Court Constitutional Petition Appeal No. 007 of 2024 were also drafted and filed.
In the period, we also followed up on other strategic cases pending before different courts and tribunals. In the case of Mukiibi Henry and 20 Others Vs Hajji Abdul Kiyimba and 3 Others, High Court Miscellaneous Cause No.179 of 2020, we followed up on payment of damages for the human rights violations suffered by our clients; in Nimrod Muhumuza & 5 Others vs AG, EACJ Reference No. 29 of 2023, the Applicants’ Conferencing Notes were filed and two meetings were conducted with potential amicus applicants.
THE HEALTH RIGHTS PROGRAMME
TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR JOURNALISTS
In the period, we conducted one training for journalists from 11th to 12th February 2025. A total of 15 journalists from various media houses were engaged in the training. The training focused on human rights, marginalisation, ethical reporting on vulnerable groups, and the role of media in promoting social justice.
WORKSHOPS WITH OFFICERS FROM UGANDA PRISONS
In a bid to improve access to stigma-free HIV services in prison settings, particularly for Key Populations, HRAPF conducted two workshops for officers from the Uganda Prisons Service from various prisons in the Eastern region.
One workshop was conducted in Jinja district on 27th February 202 and attended by 20 prison officers while the second training was conducted on 13th March 2025 in Soroti district, attended by 20 prison officers.
WORKSHOPS WITH POLICE OFFICERS
Two training workshops were conducted with police officers on the legal and policy framework on abortion in Uganda. One training reaching out to 30 police officers on 28th January 2025 in Iganga district. The second training was conducted on 29th January 2025 with 30 police officers in Kamuli district.
WORKSHOPS WITH HEALTH WORKERS
One health workers’ training was conducted in the period discussing KP issues, the concept of marginalisation, the concept of human rights and access to stigma-free health services for Key Populations. The workshop was conducted on 16th January 2025 reaching out to 30 health workers.
CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENTS WITH COMMUNITIES
One training workshop with KP peer leaders and paralegals on climate change adaptation and mitigation advocacy was conducted 3rd to 4th February 2025. The training was attended by 19 persons. The participants were also supported to develop climate advocacy action plans from 5th to 6th February 2025.
REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY ENGAGEMENTS
HRAPF was represented by Ms. Flavia Zalwango at the 2025 Convening on the Status of Women in New York.
THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMME
LEGAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS AWARENESS FOR MARGINALISED COMMUNITIES
LEGAL AID CAMPS
In the period, four legal aid camps were conducted as follows;
- In Bugiri district on 4th March 2025 with Sex workers reaching out to 21 participants.
- In Mbarara district o 27th March 2025 with KPs on 27th March 2025 reaching out to 23 participants.
- In Wakiso district on 27th March 2025 with Sex workers reaching out to 19 participants.
- In Busia district on 30th March 2025 with sex workers and PWUIDs reaching out to 18 participants.
AWARENESS SESSIONS
In the period, we held two awareness sessions with sex workers on the legal framework as follows;
- In Kasensero on 17th March 2025 with 26 sex workers.
- In Nabbingo on 20th March 2025 with 30 sex workers.
OTHER ENGAGEMENTS WITH MARGINALISED COMMUNITIES
In the period, a total of 46 site visits to districts served by the regional legal aid centers were conducted. The visits were made to various hot spots, Community Drop In Centers and shelters for KP communities. 10 of these were in the Western region, 15 in the Northern region and 21 in the Eastern region.
In the period, 4 site visits were also made to crisis shelters for KP communities.
In a bid to build the capacity of marginalised communities to adapt to and deal with the effects of climate change and sustain access to essential SRH and mental health services during climate crises, four awareness sessions were conducted with community members. The first session was held on 20th February 2025, attended by 40 persons; the second session was held on 21st February 2025 attended by 40 persons; and the 3rd session was held with 34 participants on 20th March 2025.
COMMUNITY PARALEGAL TRAINING PROGRAMME
PARALEGAL TRAININGS
HRAPF continued to empower communities to advance their rights through the training of peer leaders as community paralegals. In the first quarter, we conducted the first module of the training for 10 sex worker paralegals. The training was held from 17th to 21st February 2025.
One refresher training on human rights monitoring and documentation was also held from 27th to 30th January 2025 and was attended by 30 paralegals.
PARALEGAL SHARING SESSIONS
Another intervention through which HRAPF routinely monitors and supports the work of community paralegals is through paralegal sharing sessions, usually held on quarterly basis with paralegals serving the different KP communities.
In the 1st quarter, four regional paralegal sharing sessions were conducted. The first was held on 11th February 2025 with 16 paralegals from the Northern region; the second was held on 6th March 2025 with 18 paralegals from the Western region; the third was held on 18th March 2025 with 18 paralegals from the Eastern region and the last was held on 21st March 2025 with 19 paralegals from the Central region.
In addition, the team held one sharing session with 8 paralegals from the classes of 2010 to 2014 on 23rd January 2025 to discuss how better we can engage with earlier generations of paralegals.
SUPPORT TO PARALEGALS TO FURTHER THEIR STUDIES
HRAPF continued to support one community paralegal to pursue their degree in Law at Cavendish University.
INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT TO KEY POPULATION ORGANISATIONS
In the quarter, we held one training workshop on statutory compliance for KP organisations from 24th to 26th March 2025. The training was attended by 15 KP community leaders. We also supported one community organisation to commence the process of formal registration; filed 10 resolutions for 6 community organisations and supported 10 organisations to file annual returns.
HRAPF SECRETARIAT ACTIVITIES
STAFF BIRTHDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS
During the first quarter of 2025, we celebrated the birthdays of staff members born in January, February and March. We also held a baby shower for our colleague Harriet Ndagire, the Front Desk Officer. in the period, we also held the Beginning of Year Staff training to strategise for the new year.
Credits:
Created with images by BCFC - "Legal law concept image" • MQ-Illustrations - "Paralegal. Close-up of a Lady Justice statue. Law and lawyer symbol. Figure stands in front of paper with text."