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UCHD2025
Posted on Categories Article, Featured

The Importance of Self-Care in Uganda

– Nadia Tedoldi Islam, CEHURD 

Self-care is not merely a trend; it is an essential component of personal health management in Uganda. In a nation where healthcare facilities are often overwhelmed, self-care empowers individuals to take control of their well-being. This proactive approach encompasses health promotion, disease prevention, and effective coping strategies for illnesses, regardless of the availability of healthcare providers.

The necessity of self-care in Uganda is underscored by the country’s high population growth rate, which places tremendous strain on the healthcare system. Long wait times and exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses have become commonplace. By adopting self-care practices—such as maintaining good hygiene, engaging in regular physical activity, practicing self-medication responsibly, and fostering mental health awareness—individuals can alleviate some of the pressure on healthcare resources while enhancing their overall health.

However, several barriers hinder effective self-care practices. A significant challenge is the lack of access to vital information and resources that facilitate self-care. Additionally, misconceptions surrounding self-care—especially regarding self-testing and treatment—can lead to hesitation or misuse of available tools.

To overcome these obstacles, enhancing health literacy is crucial. This can be achieved by educating communities about simple self-care practices, including home-based health monitoring, proper nutrition, and stress management techniques. Providing accessible resources such as instructional videos, mobile applications, and community health education sessions is essential to ensure that everyone, particularly the most vulnerable populations, can engage in effective self-care.

Focusing on self-care allows individuals to prevent diseases and manage their health proactively. It empowers them to lead healthier lives while contributing to the sustainability of the healthcare system. By prioritizing self-care education and resources, Uganda can cultivate a culture of health that benefits both individuals and the broader community.

Posted on Categories Article, Featured

Voices Silenced: Battling Inheritance Injustice for Women and PLHIV in Otuke District, Northern Uganda

– Compiled by Nakalembe Judith Suzan | CEHURD

In the heart of Northern Uganda’s Lango sub-region, Otuke District’s predominantly rural communities are grappling with severe challenges surrounding cultural practices, land inheritance, and access to justice. This is particularly true for women, elderly widows, and persons living with HIV (PLHIV), who face escalating violence and exclusion as their rights to inherit family property are systematically denied. 

Despite Uganda’s Constitution and Succession Law guaranteeing equal inheritance rights, deeply entrenched cultural norms in Otuke continue to marginalize these vulnerable groups. Widows, especially those whose husbands died from HIV-related illnesses, are often unjustly accused of infecting their spouses, leading to eviction from their homes and denial of inheritance. Jannifer, a widow in Orum Subcounty, recounts, “When my husband died of HIV, they said I was the one who killed him and threw me out of our home,” highlighting the cruel intersection of stigma and property rights violations. 

Women who have only daughters face similar injustices. Once their daughters are married, these women and their children are frequently disinherited. Juliet from Agwete Subcounty, forced off her land by a brother who claimed sole ownership, laments, “They tell us we no longer belong here,” emphasizing the systemic denial of property rights. 

Elderly widows suffer additional brutality. Grandsons often resort to violence, including rape and arson, to seize control of property, while childless elderly women are accused of witchcraft to justify their eviction. These inheritance violations targeting especially women, girls and persons living with HIV, stand in stark contrast to Uganda’s legal protections, which affirm that all children, regardless of gender, and widows are entitled to inheritance. 

The failure to enforce these laws has intensified the plight of women and PLHIV in Otuke District, perpetuating a cycle of marginalization and injustice. Access to justice is further complicated by the district’s limited judicial infrastructure. Otuke has only a Grade One Magistrate’s Court, which presents significant jurisdictions barriers for victims seeking legal redress  

CEHURD, supported by TASO and the Global Fund, is spearheading efforts to combat these injustices. By implementing robust legal education programs, raising community awareness, providing free legal aid, and advocating for effective law enforcement, CEHURD is challenging harmful cultural practices and striving to bridge gaps in legal protections. They are also addressing the challenge of court accessibility, helping victims navigate the complex legal system and overcome barriers to justice. 

These initiatives are crucial in empowering vulnerable groups to claim their rights and promote a more just and equitable society. However, without enhanced enforcement of existing laws and improved access to judicial services, women, girls, and PLHIV in Otuke District will continue to face severe discrimination and injustice, remaining at the mercy of discriminatory cultural practices that deny them their rightful place in society. 

Compiled by Nakalembe Judith Suzan, Center for Health, Human Rights, and Development, Community Empowerment Programme. 

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Not Another Girl! Justice Received in Another Defilement Case

In 2019, CEHURD documented a case of aggravated defilement involving a 15-year-old orphan who was repeatedly defiled and allegedly impregnated by her 55 year old parternal uncle and guardian. One night, the survivor sought help as her uncle’s abuse intensified. She reported the incident to a CEHURD SGBV champion, who offered her support and coordinated with the police for further action. The perpetrator fled but was later apprehended with CEHURD’s intervention and collaboration with Hoima Central Police. He was remanded to prison in January 2020.

CEHURD continued its legal interventions in this matter until 12th September 2024. During a plea bargain session at the High Court in Hoima, the convict admitted to having defiled the 15 year old girl and court convicted him on his own plea of guilt. Court sentenced him to nine (9) years’ imprisonment.

What is surprising is that he claimed that he was tempted by satan to defile the girl severally and sought for forgiveness.

Since the survivor was an orphan, CEHURD coordinated with the Hoima Probation Officer to place her in a child care center, where she has and continues to receive care and education alongside her baby of 3 years.

This took place during the High court of Uganda at Hoima Criminal Session No. 0134/2024 in the case of Uganda V. Mugenyi James.

#CEHURDLegalAid

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Utilizing the Legal tool in advancing SRHR among young people in West Nile and Eastern Regions

– by CEHURD’s Community Empowerment Programme | Stand Up project – Oxfam

Teenage Pregnancy rates are still high in West Nile Region and these have come with many challenges among adolescent girls and young women in the region. With support from Oxfam-Uganda under the Stand UP project, CEHURD is employing different strategies to avert the situation in the two regions.

Among the strategies employed by CEHURD include; Utilizing the Legal tool in advancing access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) among the adolescents and young people. As such, CEHURD conducted consultation engagements with different stakeholders in the two regions with an aim of documenting insights and recommendations from community stakeholders, on possible remedies including development of By Laws and Ordinances to guide the advancement of SRHR among the communities.

CEHURD intends to work with the District Local Governments and revive the Education Ordinance as well as the Child Protection Ordinance in Arua and Namayingo respectively. The enactment of the Ordinances with effective implementation will help to mitigate challenges faced by young people among which include; child marriages, sexual gender-based violence, teenage pregnancies, child labour, and school drop outs. This will therefore lead to an increase in the enjoyment of SRHR among adolescent girls and young women in the two regions, particularly in light of the rising cases of early marriage and teenage pregnancies.

During the consultations, some of the key concerns were raised included the following;
1. Leaders expressed frustration over past ordinances that were not effectively enforced and hoped for the new ordinances to address the shortcomings of the earlier laws that were not effectively implemented due to budget constraints and lack of awareness among local leaders among other factors.

2. There was a strong focus on the rising cases of child marriages and SGBV with leaders highlighting the urgency to address these issues through the new ordinance.

3. The consultations stressed the importance of community engagement in developing, implementing and monitoring the ordinance to ensure it meets local needs and protects children’s rights.

4. The need for increased awareness strategies to educate the community about children’s rights, their responsibilities towards implementation and the implications of the ordinance were highlighted.

The outcomes of these consultations will be instrumental in shaping the ordinance, reflecting the community’s needs and aspirations while promoting sustainable educational practices in the communities.

The district leaderships are concerned about the situation at hand, according to the Arua District LC5 Chairman Alfred Okuonzi, ❝The district has recorded alarming statistics including cases of teenage pregnancies and school dropouts which is attributed to poor parenting and moral decay affecting children’s ability to attain education.❞ He pledged to ensure law enforcement is proactive once the ordinance is enacted.

On the other hand, the Health in Charge of Sigulu health Center III appreciated CEHURD and partners for supporting the initiatives aimed at advancing access to SRHR as well as addressing SGBV in the region.

❝I have seen many cases of teenage pregnancy resulting from this night fundraising in the community. The girls are vulnerable, naive and due to difficulties, they cannot access reproductive health from health facilities. These also in most cases present with HIV/AIDS at a later date of their antenatal leading to a high rate of HIV transmission,❞ he noted.

Posted on Categories Featured, News

Moot Problem and Instructions for the 11th National Inter-University Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition

The Center for Health, Human Rights, and Development (CEHURD) extends its gratitude to the universities that have registered for the 11th National Inter-University Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition.

This year’s competition addresses the critical theme of “Balancing Competing Priorities in Championing Reproductive and Gender Equity in Uganda,” reflecting the ongoing national discourse on these essential issues.

We are pleased to announce that the Moot problem and instructions for this year’s competition are now available for download. Good luck to all participants as you engage in this important legal and human rights challenge.

#CEHURDMoot2024

»  Download 11th Moot Problem

» Download CEHURD 11th Moot Instructions 2024

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