Outcome UGA_D_3.2

By 2025, gender equality and human rights of people in Uganda are promoted, protected, and fulfilled in a culturally responsive environment.

Public trust and satisfaction in the justice system is 69% according to the Justice needs survey report 2024 conducted by the Hague institute of Innovating law (HiiL). This has not changed since 2023 when the satisfaction level was the same. Country wide, the level of social tolerance for GBV reduced. According to the UDHS 2022 report, 81 percent [1] of the GBV violence indicators showed a decline. Community attitude towards GBV has also improved. Less women and men now agree with justification for wife beating and more women are engaged in joint decision making at the household level. Specifically, the UDHS 2022 found that the proportion of men aged 15-49 agree with at least one justification for wife beating declined by 11 percent [2] and those that believe a wife is justified in refusing sex if her husband has other partners declined by 6 percent [3] from 2016 to 2022. [1] 13/16 indicators [2] Men aged 15-49 who agree with at least one justification for wife beating declined from 41 percent in 2016 to 30 percent in 2022. [3] Men aged 15-49 who believe a wife is justified in refusing sex if her husband has other partners declined from 77 percent in 2016 to 71 percent in 2022.

By 2025, gender equality and human rights of people in Uganda are promoted, protected, and fulfilled in a culturally responsive environment.

Uganda continues to make progress toward the 2025 target of reducing gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices, as evidenced by improvements in national attitudes, behaviours, and reported experiences of GBV. Countrywide, the latest Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS 2022) show a significant reduction in social tolerance for GBV. Overall, 81 percent of GBV-related indicators declined, reflecting improved community attitudes. Fewer women and men now justify wife beating, and more women are participating in joint household decision-making. Specifically, the proportion of men aged 15–49 who agree with at least one justification for wife beating dropped by 11 percentage points, from 41% in 2016 to 30% in 2022. Likewise, the share of men who believe a wife is justified in refusing sex if her husband has other partners decreased from 77% to 71% over the same period. The UDHS further reports that in the 12 months before the survey, 11% of women and 4% of men experienced sexual violence. Lifetime experience remains highest among ever-married women—25% among those formerly in union and 18% among those currently married—compared to 5% among those never married. Among survivors who had ever been married or had an intimate partner, 66% identified current intimate partners as perpetrators, while 42% reported former partners. For never-married women, strangers were the predominant offenders (32%), followed by friends or acquaintances (12%). The most common form of spousal sexual violence reported was forced sexual intercourse—15% among women and 6% among men. Child marriage also persists, though trends show gradual improvement. According to the UDHS, 34% of women aged 20–24 were married before age 18, and 7% before age 15. Women continue to marry earlier than men, with the median age at first marriage at 18.8 years among women aged 25–49 and 24.8 years among men. While 42% of women aged 25–49 marry before age 18, only 13% of men do so. Over the past two decades, the median age at first marriage has increased slightly for both women and men, while the proportion of women married before age 18 has declined from 53% in 2000–01 to 42% in 2022. Although UDHS data reflect the situation as of 2022, the trends show continued progress in reducing GBV tolerance and child marriage, providing a strong baseline for measuring 2023–2025 programme achievements. More recent district-level evidence from UN Women–supported interventions, quarterly partner reports, and LAP implementation updates indicates further positive shifts in community norms, reporting behavior, and survivor support, reinforcing the trajectory captured by UDHS 2022. UN Women has contributed significantly to sustaining and accelerating these gains through multi-level interventions. Support to district Local Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security, community-based advocacy networks, religious and cultural leaders, and women mediators has strengthened prevention, early response, and accountability mechanisms. Behaviour change communication campaigns, male engagement initiatives, and capacity-building for service providers have further improved community attitudes toward GBV, increased reporting and referral pathways, and enhanced protection of women and girls. These interventions complement national efforts and help drive progress toward the 2025 outcome targets on GBV prevention and elimination of harmful practices.

By 2025, gender equality and human rights of people in Uganda are promoted, protected, and fulfilled in a culturally responsive environment.

The situation of women's rights has not changed much since last year. Gender based violence is still high, but the country is awaiting the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey report to get a more accurate information in this. However, public trust in the justice system is improving. In 2023, public trust in the justice system stood at 69% according to data collected from the SEMA pilot program located at 50 frontline JLOS service points (JLOS annual report, 2022/23). This presents a 7-percentage point increase from the 62% reported in 2022.