Chapter Four UG

Chapter Four’s statement on the indefinite suspension of the organization’s NGO permit.

“We consider this suspension unjustified and are pursuing all available administrative and legal measures to restore our operational status as soon as possible.”

Statement on the suspension of Chapter Four Uganda’s NGO Permit Chapter Four Uganda notes with concern the indefinite suspension of our NGO Permit by the National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO Bureau). Similar suspensions also affected nine other civil society organizations. The suspension is based on vague allegations that we engaged in activit...

As we get close to the end of another year of collective efforts towards a fairer and more just society, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has stood with us in defending human rights, justice, and dignity in Uganda.

This season, we celebrate the courage of all who continue to speak truth to power, protect the vulnerable, and work toward a freer, fairer, and more just society. Your resilience and solidarity have been our greatest strength.

May the holidays bring you rest, peace, and renewed resolve for the year ahead.

Happy Holidays! ✨

The systematic erosion of fundamental ideals of dignity and freedom in Uganda through state-sponsored violence, brutality, arbitrary arrests, and a declining state of rule of law is deeply worrying. See our statement on this Human Rights Day for more details.

Human Rights Day, 2025: Urgent call to end electoral violence The systematic erosion of fundamental ideals of dignity and freedom through state-sponsored violence, brutality, arbitrary arrests, and a declining state of rule of law is deeply worrying, Chapter Four Uganda said today. As Uganda prepares for the 2026 General Elections, the past month has witnessed...

Heartfelt congratulations to our partner, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, on celebrating 20 incredible years of protecting, promoting and strengthening the work of human rights defenders in Uganda—and the East and Horn of Africa.

Your dedication and commitment to standing with human rights defenders and organisations that are most-at-risk, often in risky situations, has made a profound impact—and continues to serve as a beacon of hope.

Here's to many more years of courage, conviction, and unwavering dedication to the noble cause of human rights.

We look forward to continue working closely to face the challenges that prevail today.

When journalists are targeted, our democratic progress is weakened. Voices are silenced. On this International Day to for Crimes against Journalists, we call for accountability for past violations and reaffirm our commitment to defend journalists and other media workers. Read our statement.

Statement on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists Journalists and other media workers in Uganda are often targeted in reprisal attacks because of their work, Chapter Four Uganda said today. The attacks include threats, verbal abuse, arbitrary arrest, physical attacks, and unlawful restriction of access to news sources. These crimes, which largely g...

Happy Independence Day, Uganda! It is a proud moment to celebrate our resilience. Let’s renew our commitment to uphold human rights, justice, and fairness for all. These principles are fundamental in the efforts to achieve the full promise of independence—where everyone lives with dignity and equal opportunity.

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Peace is not only the absence of conflict—it is the presence of dignity, equality, tolerance, accountability, and justice.

At Chapter Four, we work to create pathways for sustainable and inclusive peace through challenging repressive laws and practices, providing first-line legal support for human rights defenders on the frontlines, and supporting civil society organizations to navigate the complex operating environment.

The barriers to peace are complex. On this International Day of Peace 2025, especially ahead of the upcoming general elections, we call for accountability for human rights violations to:

1️⃣promote justice and fairness;
2️⃣foster a culture of responsibility and respect for the law;
3️⃣prevent impunity for further violations;
4️⃣build trust and tolerance; and
5️⃣support reconciliation.

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Uganda’s Constitutional Court has dismissed the petition seeking to repeal sections of the Divorce Act that establish the ‘fault-based’ divorce system that require proof of adultery, cruelty, or dissertion for more than two years to grant divorce.

In her lead judgment in Innocent Ngobi Ndiko & 4 Others v Attorney General & Another (Constitutional Petition No. 23 of 2020), Justice Hellen Obura ruled that the existing Divorce Act reflects Ugandan values, norms and aspirations and remains valid until the Parliament decides otherwise. The majority upheld that free consent cannot be unilaterally withdrawn to dissolve a marriage without cause.

Justice Egonda-Ntende dissented, finding in favour of the ‘no-fault’ divorce system as proposed by the petitioners. He stated, “Without consent, a marriage cannot come into existence and by implication if such consent is withdrawn during marriage, the marriage collapses”.

The ruling maintains traditional divorce grounds but signals ongoing discussion on marriage laws in Uganda. For more details, see the full judgment. https://shorturl.at/IuAiEer

Tomorrow morning, the Constitutional Court will have an opportunity to end Uganda’s archaic and unconstitutional ‘fault-based divorce system’ that is highly adversarial and acrimonious—often exacerbating conflict, and emotional distress for the couple, families, and any children involved.

Our lawyers will be at the Constitutional Court in Kampala to receive the judgment in the case of Innocent Ngobi Ndiko, Nicholas Opiyo, Dr. Busingye Kabumba & 2 Others v Attorney General, Constitutional Petition No. 23 of 2020.

In this strategic case, we worked with partners to challenge several provisions of the Divorce Act and procedure adopted in divorce proceedings in Uganda, which we contend often simply delay justice in foregone conclusion, often perpetuating domestic violence, child abuse, and other crimes of passion thereby destroying any possibilities of reconciliation in the protection of the family unit.

We seek several declarations, including:

1. Legal requirement for a spouse to prove that the other spouse in a marriage has committed adultery, cruelty, or desertion for divorce to be granted is inconsistent with the Constitution.

2. A trial-like procedure in divorce proceedings is inconsistent with the Constitution.

3. Granting courts discretionary powers to decide whether two consenting adults ought to continue in a marital relationship is an infringement on a wide spectrum of constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. Court has no powers to compel someone to stay in a marriage, and to engage in sexual relationship, against their will.

We contend that courts should be enjoined to enter a Decree Nisi upon receipt of a petition for dissolution of marriage, identification of parties, and a report for failed mediation; and then delve into determination of other consequential reliefs such as property acquired during the marriage, custody of the children, etc.

We further invited the Court to issue an injunction restraining all courts in Uganda currently handling divorce proceedings from continuing to contravene the Constitution as detailed in the petition.

We hope the Court will seize the watershed moment to usher in the ‘no-fault divorce system’, where a divorce can be granted based on the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage without needing to go through the protracted trial-like process to prove fault.

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Earlier today, our Program Manager joined our partner Unwanted Witness Uganda for the launch of a report on the weaponization of surveillance and spyware to target and impede civil society, human rights defenders, and journalists in East and Southern Africa.

We join partners to call on the Parliament and other policy makers, to reform surveillance laws to align them with human rights standards and international obligations by repealing vague provisions, defining practices, requiring court warrants, limiting scope and duration, and prohibiting spyware use against human rights defenders and civil society.

To strongly advocate for these reforms, among others detailed in the report, civil society in the region need to foster solidarity and cross-boarder collaboration to strengthen coalitions to coordinate, share resources, coordinate advocacy, support targeted individuals and organizations, and demand accountability for violations.

For more about the report, see link: http://bit.ly/3FXczdr