Shaping Political Change: Amnesty International’s Lobbying Role in Combating Political Rights Violations in Uganda
Ssebunya Robert, Mawa Micheal & Kasujja John Paul
Department of Public Administration and Management,
Nkumba University, Uganda
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6959-9929
Email: kakaroberoto@gmail.com
Abstract: Political rights are fundamental to democratic governance, yet persistent restrictions continue to undermine civic participation, accountability, and constitutional freedoms in Uganda. This study examined Amnesty International’s lobbying role in combating political rights violations in Uganda. Constructivism Theory guided the study by explaining how lobbying shapes policy reform, institutional behaviour, and democratic governance. A qualitative case study design involved 32 purposively selected participants from Amnesty International, civil society organisations, journalists, legal practitioners, human rights activists, and community leaders. Data were collected through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, and document review, and were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that Amnesty International combats political rights violations through advocacy and policy influence, evidence-based reporting, and strategic reporting processes. Legislative lobbying, policy dialogue, and coalition-building strengthened policy discussions, institutional accountability, and alignment with international human rights standards. Evidence-based reporting generated credible documentation that informed policy debates, strengthened advocacy, enhanced accountability, and increased international scrutiny of political rights violations. Strategic reporting transformed documented violations into recommendations supporting lobbying and policy reform. Partnerships with civil society organisations strengthened information sharing and collective advocacy despite persistent political resistance. The study concludes that Amnesty International’s lobbying strengthens democratic governance by shaping policy discourse, promoting accountability, and advancing political rights protection. However, its effectiveness remains constrained by political resistance, shrinking civic space, weak implementation of human rights recommendations, and limited state responsiveness. The study recommends strengthening evidence-based lobbying, expanding strategic partnerships, and sustaining policy engagement to enhance political rights protection in Uganda.
