KAMPALA– Civil Society Activists have called on Government not to sacrifice human rights freedoms on the altar of national security and instead ensure that the two exist in harmony for better governance in Uganda.
This was during the Round Table Discussion on Balancing National Security and Civil Liberties held on14th August 2025 at Hotel Africana in Kampala, organised by both Centre for Policy Analysis and Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF), under the Civic Space Initiative (CSI), where many stakeholders raised concerns about the shrinking civic space in Uganda ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Sarah Bireete, Executive Director for Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG) called on players in the governance and democracy space to think differently as they approach the general elections as this is the season when the State takes away most of the liberties and the little freedoms remaining with in the country, given the shrinking civic space context.
Timothy Chemonges, Executive Director, Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA) noted that the discussion comes at the time when national security is an urgent and legitimate concern, where Uganda, like many other nations, face real threats from violent extremism and cybercrime to disinformation that requires effective state response.
Jimmy Wamimbi, Project Coordinator at Avocats Sans Frontières noted that the Civic Space Initiative project seeks to empower civic activists to actively participate and influence the shaping of norms, policies that are critical to promoting a conducive and enabling environment for human rights.
In his presentation on Balancing National Security and Civil Liberties, Dr. Fredrick Sekindi, a lawyer and human rights activist called on Ugandans to rethink the enormous power that was vested in the office of Presidency, without matching that same power with institutions to check abuse of these powers.
Leondro Komaketch, Political Scientist and Governance Expert called for the balance between national security and protect of civil liberties,noting that balance in national security and civil liberties in Uganda requires anchoring security policy in constitutional decisions, in the rule of law, in transparent governance, while addressing genuine threats like terrorism, cross-border instability, cybercrime.
Patience Kwizera, National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders-Uganda called for a deeper analysis of what has caused the paralysis of civil liberties, especially social destruction that the State has used to its advantage.
Winfred Mugambwa, Executive Director, Rights 4 Her Uganda questioned the proposal raised during discussion that Uganda needs a new group of individuals for the state of affairs to improve.
