Uganda’s interaction with state reporting under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine Uganda’s interaction with state reporting under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Charter on the Rights and welfare of the Child (ACRWC). In pursuing this objective, the study proceeds with this broad question: Has Uganda provided adequate information in its Periodic State reports to the African Commission and the ACERWC which would enable them to adequately examine the country’s implementation of the provisions of the relevant treaties? To answer that broad question, the study embarked on answering the following specific questions: (i) What kind of information is the state of Uganda, through its periodic reports, expected to provide to the African Commission and the ACERWC? (ii) In its reports submitted to these bodies thus far, what information has Uganda provided? (iii) From a review of the submitted reports, has the information provided by Uganda enabled the African Commission and the ACERWC to adequately review the country’s human rights situation? (iv) What lessons can be drawn, and what recommendations can be made, for Uganda to maximize the benefits of state reporting to the African Commission and the ACERWC? In terms of its methodology, the study was fully desk researched involving a review of literature on state reporting generally with emphasis on state reporting under the African human rights system. This is coupled with a content analysis of Uganda’s periodic reports to the African Commission and the ACERWC in terms of their adequacy in facilitating the reviewing bodies with sufficient information to undertake an adequate examination of the human rights situation in the country. In this regard, the study relies on the data available on the websites of the African Commission and the ACERWC as well as library and online publications making commentaries on the same.