Community Sensitization on Business and Human Rights

Resource Rights Africa & Wama Development foundation AfricaConduct 5 day Community Sensitization on Business and Human Rights in Isengero Village, Nankoma Sub-County, Bugiri District through drama and puppet theatre

Community sensitization on business and human rights in Uganda focuses on raising awareness among stakeholders communities, businesses, and government about the responsibilities and impacts of corporate activities on human rights, guided by frameworks like the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Efforts aim to address issues such as labor rights violations, environmental degradation, land rights disputes, and gender-based violence linked to business operations, particularly in sectors like oil, mining, and agribusiness.

Key initiatives include:

• National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights (2021-2026): Launched on July 31, 2021, following consultations across 99 districts with over 600 participants, including vulnerable groups like women, youth, and persons with disabilities. It identifies challenges like child labor, poor remuneration, land evictions, and environmental pollution, aiming to promote compliance and accountability.

• Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues: Organizations like  Wama Development Foundation Africa , Human Rights Network-Uganda (HURINET-U), and Resource Rights Africa facilitate discussions between businesses, civil society, and government. For example, a 2017 Kampala event engaged business leaders from Centenary Bank, G4S, and others to promote human rights due diligence

• Wama Development Foundation Africa (WDFA) conduct sensitization meetings to educate communities on their rights, including land, property, and labor rights, enabling them to hold companies accountable,

  Focus on Vulnerable Groups: Consultations emphasize issues faced by women, youth, and Indigenous communities, such as sexual harassment, gender pay gaps, and forced evictions, particularly in oil and mining regions like in Bugiri and Karamoja,

• Advocacy for Accountability: Civil society pushes for corporate codes of conduct, transparent licensing, and remedies for human rights abuses. Challenges include weak enforcement of laws like the Employment Act, which excludes the informal sector (80% of Uganda’s workforce), and lack of human rights impact assessments in mining and petroleum laws

Despite progress, gaps remain in legal frameworks, enforcement, and civic space, with reported state repression of activists opposing projects like the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. Sensitization efforts continue to bridge these gaps through education, policy advocacy, and community-driven accountability.