The University Students Human Rights Network (USHRN)
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University students at the 10th Inter-University Human Rights Competition at Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi 2017.

Overall objective:

To enhance students’ consciousness on human rights to demand democratic reforms.

The students outreach program looks to build knowledge, strengthen research skills, and stimulate debate on human rights amongst young human rights defenders in schools and institutions of higher learning. FHRI is building on the achievements of the last programmes under the education and training component to strengthen the University Students Human Rights Network (USHRN) which began in 2007. This effort is aimed at nurturing students into strong human rights defenders who would gradually develop a human rights culture. FHRI hereby expects a growing student movement passionate about human rights and values. 

With a membership of 39 institutions, the network comprises of: Nkumba University, Kampala University, Makerere University, Ndejje University, Uganda Christian University, Bishop Stuart University, Kabale University, Islamic University In Uganda, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Gulu University, Kampala International University, Cavendish University, Uganda Martyrs University, Kyambogo University, Busitema University, Uganda Pentecostal University, Mountains of the Moon University, Gulu University, University of Saint Joseph, Mbarara, Muni University and International University of East Africa. 

The following activities are conducted:

  • Internal University Human Rights debate: At the university level, internal debates are held as part of the routine activities of the human rights associations.  
  • Annual Inter-University Human Rights competition: FHRI partners with member universities of the University Students Human Rights Network to organise the annual competition. The students submit research papers and make oral presentations on a wide range of human rights and governance issues in Uganda. Since 2007, FHRI has organized 13 competitions from which compilations of some of the presentations were done by FHRI.