Human Rights Declarations and Related Voluntary Guidelines: Details of Adoption and Implementation in Uganda
- September 2, 2022
- Posted by: cefrohtadmin
- Category: Publications
1. Declaration on the Right to Development, 1986
Has the state signed (or agreed to implement) the principles and objectives?
Yes. Uganda voted in favour of the Declaration in 1986 and again voted in favour of the Commentary on article 1(1) in April 2023. The right to development is also reaffirmed in other instruments Uganda has approved, such as the 1992 Rio Declaration, the 1993 Vienna Declaration, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Has the state expressed reservations?
No evidence was found. No records were found and interviewees expressed no knowledge in this regard.
Does some form of oversight/monitoring mechanism exist?
Not systematic. The declaration itself is not defined in national instruments; however, its principles are implemented through Uganda’s development agendas (Vision 2040, National Development Plan III) and the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. Monitoring is coordinated by the Office of the Prime Minister using a Results Framework integrated into a web-based NDP M&E system, which also tracks SDGs, Agenda 2063, and human rights indicators.
Is there a national plan of action? Is it regularly updated?
No. No specific plan based on this declaration was identified. However, the government implements plans and programs that work towards the right to development, including the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, NDP III, the Parish Development Model (PDM), and various presidential initiatives on wealth and job creation.
Has the state participated in monitoring efforts (e.g., reporting)? Who is responsible?
No direct evidence. However, Uganda participates in the SDG summits and the monitoring rounds of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (which produced the “Kampala Principles”). Uganda’s human rights record, including the right to development, was also examined in the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in January 2022.
Is the document mentioned in strategic planning and legislative processes?
No direct evidence. It is mentioned in the Annual Report on the State of Equal Opportunities in Uganda FY 2020/2021. Interviews confirmed that the National Development Plan III and Uganda Vision 2040 are key instruments that contribute to the realization of the right to development.