Updates from April 2025

Hello Friends,

In the just concluded 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council Session (HRC58),  our advocacy efforts focused on the extension of the mandate of the existing investigative mechanism, the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS). During the session,the CHRSS presented its report. On the 2 April,  a strong  resolution in line with civil society expectations was passed at the initiative of core group (UK, Norway, Albania, Ireland.  It enables the CHRSS to pursue its work for at least one year as South Sudan is facing a risk of relapse into chaos. Indeed, the country has been on the brink of relapse into large-scale civil war. Heavy fighting in several parts of the country and escalating tensions in Juba are threatening to nullify the 2018 revitalised peace agreement.

This resolution reflects a critical acknowledgment of the ongoing human rights violations, entrenched impunity, and fragile peace process in South Sudan. With the country preparing for its first-ever national elections, independent scrutiny and documentation of human rights abuses are more vital than ever. The CHRSS plays an indispensable role in ensuring that victims’ voices are heard and that evidence is preserved for future accountability.

This month, I took time to reflect on the atmosphere in which the 58th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC58) unfolded one marked by mounting attacks on multilateralism. The session, held from 24 February to 4 April 2025, saw the adoption of over 30 resolutions amid increasing pressure on civil society. The withdrawal of the United States, Israel, and Nicaragua from key UN forums delivered a significant blow to global human rights dialogue, and the reduced presence of states this time round was particularly noticeable. These exits, along with shifting donor priorities and funding cuts, significantly hindered the ability of civil society actors to engage meaningfully in this session.

Beyond conventional advocacy, we continue to harness the power of art as a tool for resistance and expression. Despite facing censorship, cultural restrictions, and digital challenges, African artists remain unwavering in their activism. In May, our Ttaala Program will expand to West Africa, equipping artivists with the tools and knowledge they need to protect themselves and amplify their advocacy through their creative work.

As always, DefendDefenders remains steadfast in its commitment to protect those who risk their lives for freer civic spaces. I invite you to turn the pages for details of our engagements this month and encourage you to join us as we look to the future with renewed dedication.

Hassan Shire
Executive Director, DefendDefenders
Chairperson, AfricanDefenders

Human Rights Defender of the Month: Dr. Zahara Nampewo

Dr. Zahara Nampewo is a prominent Ugandan human rights lawyer, academic, and gender justice advocate with over two decades of experience in legal education, public interest litigation, and social justice. She currently serves as the Deputy Principal at the School of Law, Makerere University, and has been the Treasurer on the Board of DefendDefenders since 2019. Widely regarded as a thought leader across Africa, Dr. Nampewo is known for her expertise in academia, gender equality, access to justice, and governance.

Reflecting on DefendDefenders’ journey, she shares: “It is amazing how DefendDefenders has grown, emerging from a seemingly small but original idea of working with HRDs at a conference in 2005. I see the growth not only through the numbers of staff and programmes but also the geographical areas of operation, as well as the numbers of people in need that have been, and continue to be, reached. This journey, as I observe it through the different spaces that I share with DD, is unbelievably phenomenal!”

Dr. Zahara Nampewo was born and raised in a devout Muslim family in Kampala, where she began her academic journey at Kitante Primary School. One memory that remains vivid from her early childhood dates back to Primary three, during an Eid celebration in 1984. As was her family’s tradition, she stayed home to attend prayers at the Kibuli Mosque, an occasion she fondly describes as their version of Christmas. After prayers, the family would typically go out for a treat before returning home to share a special lunch. However, at the time, Eid was not recognised as a public holiday, and school continued as usual. When she returned to school, she was punished for her absence, an experience she recalls as deeply unfair and formative in shaping her early awareness of exclusion and injustice.

In the secondary school she later attended, Dr. Zahara Nampewo found a more inclusive environment that was respectful of her Muslim faith, with the administration making necessary accommodations. When it came time to choose her path for university, she opted to pursue law, drawn by her strong performance and interest in the arts particularly in reading, writing, and critical analysis. “I was naturally good at reading large volumes of books and writing,” she recalls a skillset that would later define her future in law and academia.

Dr. Zahara Nampewo graduated with distinction from Makerere University School of Law in 1998, earning a place among the top of her class. As was customary for outstanding students, she was offered the opportunity to teach. She did briefly, however, proceeded to enrol at the Law Development Centre (LDC), where she completed her Diploma in Legal Practice in 1999. That same year, she began working formally with the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), a pivotal step in her growing commitment to human rights advocacy.

Updates from DefendDefenders

Between  30 April  – 2nd May 2025, DefendDefenders carried out follow-up visits to the organisations that were trained in security management in August 2024 in the Albertine region, which brought together ten (10) individual HRDs from seven (7) organizations that include Agency for Integrated Development (AID), Comfort Community Empowerment Network (COCENET), Action for Community Empowerment Uganda (ACEU), Lake Albert Children Women Advocacy and Development Organisation (LOCWADO), Hoima Forum for People Living with HIV Network (HOPLA), Alliance for Change Foundation and Hoima Network of Child Rights Clubs (HONECRIC). The follow-up visits aimed at assessing the implementation of the organizational security plans while identifying the gaps faced from the previous training. This follow-up also aimed at spotting the organisations that will participate in the Training of Trainers and MDR-Kobo Toolbox.

On 28 and 29 April 2025, DefendDefenders conducted needs assessment visits to selected organisations in the western region of Uganda. The mission engaged eleven individual HRDs from five organisations: Local Sustainable Communities Organization (LOSCO), United Organization for Batwa Development in Uganda, Hope for Peaceful Families Foundation, Malteza International, and TPO. The primary objective of the assessment was to evaluate the organisations’ needs and capacities in relation to monitoring, documenting, and reporting (MDR) human rights issues within the region.

From 29 April to 1 May 2025, DefendDefenders participated in the 2025 edition of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF25), held in Lusaka, Zambia, under the theme “Promoting Digital Ubuntu in Approaches to Technology.” Organised by Paradigm Initiative (PIN) and its partners, DRIF has, since 2013, served as a premier platform for shaping digital policy in the Global South, bringing together stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, media, the tech industry, and the private sector to discuss critical issues such as internet access, online freedoms, digital inclusion, and privacy. As part of our engagement, DefendDefenders provided an in-person digital security helpdesk throughout the event, offering support to participants on securing mobile devices (including security scans), improving account protection through strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and addressing general cybersecurity concerns raised by activists and other delegates.

DefendDefenders concluded the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC58), which ran from 24 February to 4 April 2025, with the adoption of a strong resolution on South Sudan an outcome that aligns with civil society expectations. Given the country’s volatile situation, the resolution passed with broad support. We welcomed this development and called on all stakeholders to give South Sudan the urgent and sustained attention it requires.

From 28 to 30 April 2025, DefendDefenders and AfricanDefenders supported the participation of eight human rights defenders (HRDs) from Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Nigeria, and Tunisia at the Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, held in Banjul, The Gambia. The HRDs engaged with the year’s theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” exploring how reparative justice can serve as a transformative tool for addressing historical injustices and advancing human rights across the continent. Through panel discussions, special interest groups, and collaborative dialogue, participants developed strategies to confront the lasting impacts of colonialism and enslavement, promote accountability, and empower affected communities. The HRDs further used the platform to raise country specifc and thematic human rights issues affecting their respective countries.

From 8 to 10 April 2025, AfricanDefenders’, participated in the 2nd Copenhagen People Power Conference hosted by ActionAid Denmark together with other partners. This global gathering brought together leaders from social movements, progressive government actors, donors, UN agencies, academics and activists to reflect on how to strengthen the role of social movements in advancing justice and peace. The conference focused on practical strategies to enhance the prevention and resolution of violent conflict by recognizing the critical role grassroots movements play in creating long-term, positive change. It also served as a platform to strengthen collaboration with other stakeholders committed to supporting these efforts. 

In April, DefendDefenders received a total of 60 emergency assistance requests from HRDs at risk in the region. Of these, 27 (45%) were supported through the requested interventions, indirectly benefiting 155 individuals.

Additionally, 18 requests (30%) were declined due to limitations within the organisation’s mandate, while 6 requests (10%) were referred to other protection service providers. The remaining 9 requests (15%) are currently undergoing the vetting process.

Country Updates:

COUNTRY SITUATION

TANZANIA

On 9 April 2025, police officers arrested Tundu Lissu, leader of Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, after holding a political rally in Mbinga town, southwest of Tanzania.[i] Police used excessive force, including firing teargas and shooting in the air to disperse his supporters who gathered around during the arrest. The following day, authorities charged Lissu with treason, a non-bailable offence, over a social media post he published on 3 April calling for a boycott of the upcoming elections, which he alleged would be rigged. The state also charged him with three counts under Tanzania’s cybercrime laws for allegedly publishing false information. In a YouTube video posted on 3 April, Lissu claimed that police had participated in electoral malpractice on orders from the President following the November 2024 local elections. He also alleged that the judiciary lacks independence and operates under pressure from the ruling party. Authorities denied Lissu the right to enter a plea on the treason charge, but he pleaded not guilty to the publication-related offence and is scheduled to appear in Court again on 24 April. His lawyer, Rugemeleza Nshala, denounced the charges as politically motivated, pointing to a broader crackdown on dissent ahead of Tanzania’s 2025 general elections.

 

On 12 April 2025, Tanzania’s Electoral Commission disqualified the main opposition party, CHADEMA, from participating in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for October 2025.[ii] Ramadhani Kailima, the Commission’s director of elections, claimed that CHADEMA failed to sign a mandatory code of conduct by the deadline, effectively barring it from all electoral processes, including by-elections, until 2030. The exclusion of CHADEMA has sparked widespread outrage among HRDs and opposition voices, who condemned the move as part of an escalating crackdown on political dissent under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration. Civil society actors continue to raise alarms over patterns of repression, including enforced disappearances and unlawful killings targeting critics of the government.

 

 

UGANDA

On 11 April 2025, High Court Judge Rosette Comfort Kania denied bail to Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and his aide Hajj Obeid Lutale, citing the gravity of the treason charges against them and the risk of interfering with ongoing investigations. This decision came despite the two having met all standard bail conditions and presented credible sureties. Dr. Besigye was arrested on 6 November 2024 in Nairobi Kenya and controversially transferred to Uganda, where he was charged with allegedly seeking foreign military support to destabilise the government. The case has drawn widespread concern from civil society and human rights observers, who view the proceedings as politically motivated and part of a broader pattern of state repression targeting critics of the government.

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