The country in brief
The country's law, area by area
Marriage, partnership and divorce
Marriage · Partnerships and cohabitation · Same-sex marriage · Religious ceremony · Wedding customs and ceremonies · Matrimonial property and inheritance · Divorce
Children, family and inheritance
Names · Adoption · Assisted reproduction · Childcare · Step-families · Inheritance
Contraception, abortion, sexuality and drugs
Contraception · Abortion · Parents: a teenager’s first relationship · Sexual orientation · Drugs and controlled substances · Alcohol and tobacco
Violence, consent and sexual offences
Consent and age of consent · Domestic violence · Female genital mutilation · Sexual offences committed abroad
Online: privacy, image, data and scams
Data protection · Privacy · Image rights · Speech and online harassment · Copyright · Identity theft · Online shopping · Romance scams
Health: pregnancy, STIs and care
Pregnancy · Mental health · Dental care · HIV and AIDS · Hepatitis B · HPV
Fundamental rights
Key points
| Constitution | Chapter 4, with Article 50 enforcement |
|---|---|
| UHRC tribunal | Can order release, award compensation and make other orders |
| Standing | Any person may act, including for someone unable to act themselves |
| Constitutional Court | Petitions on constitutional interpretation |
| East African Court of Justice | Accessible to individuals, with a short two-month deadline |
| African Charter | Ratified; Commission accessible after exhaustion |
| Article 50 | Anyone may bring an action, including on behalf of others |
| EACJ | Two-month time limit from the act complained of |
Understanding the rules
Chapter 4 of the Constitution guarantees fundamental rights, and Article 50 allows any person to bring an action, including on behalf of others. The Uganda Human Rights Commission has the powers of a court in its tribunal function: it can order the release of a detained person, award compensation, and make any other appropriate order. The East African Court of Justice is also accessible.
In practice
- Diarise the East African Court's two-month deadline: it cannot be extended.
Where to go
- Uganda Human Rights Commission regional offices.
- Legal Aid Service Providers Network.
- East African Court of Justice, Arusha.
Worth knowing
The East African Court of Justice has a strict two-month time limit from the act complained of: it is very easy to miss, and it cannot be extended. The Human Rights Commission's power to award compensation directly makes it more useful than the courts for many state-related complaints.
The general article: Fundamental rights · Compare with another country
Courtship and beauty around the world
Advice
Sources
Whole page
- Women, Business and the Law 2024: Uganda — Banque mondiale, Women, Business and the Law (WBL), 2024
- Uganda (country page) — Programme commun des Nations unies sur le VIH/sida (ONUSIDA), accessed 2026
- Data Protection and Privacy Act (Cap. 97) — National Information Technology Authority - Uganda (NITA-U), texte de la loi, 2019
Fundamental rights
- Uganda 1995 (rev. 2017) Constitution — Constitution de l'Ouganda (texte publié par Constitute Project), 2017
Official or institutional documents this page relies on, consulted on 12 October 2026. Links open in a new tab.
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