Unwanted Witness Launches Groundbreaking Report on Surveillance Threats to Civil Society in East & Southern Africa
On 10th June 2025, Unwanted Witness, in partnership with MISA Zimbabwe, the Open Society Foundations, and the Ford Foundation, launched a powerful new report titled: “Surveillance/Spyware: An Impediment to Civil Society, HRDs & Journalists in East & Southern Africa.”
The report reveals how unchecked government surveillance and the growing use of spyware are stifling free expression, intimidating dissenting voices, and threatening democracy across East and Southern Africa. It documents how digital surveillance practices, often deployed without legal oversight or accountability, are used to target human rights defenders (HRDs), journalists, activists, and other civil society actors.
“The right to communicate freely and privately is fundamental to democracy and protected under international law,” Dorothy Mukasa, Executive Director-Unwanted Witness. “Yet this right is under siege as states and non-state actors deploy increasingly sophisticated tools to monitor, intimidate, and silence dissent.”
EMPOWERING YOU WITH CONTROL OVER YOUR PRIVACY AND DIGITAL LIFE
We raise awareness about the risks associated with the processing of personal data online and offline. This includes educating individuals about the types of data that are typically collected by companies and how that data can be used..
AMPLIFYING YOUR VOICE, PRESERVING YOUR ONLINE FREEDOM
Through our lobbying efforts, we engage with the government and other stakeholders to promote internet freedoms and prevent censorship. As a human rights organization, we are committed to defending the rights of internet users and ensuring that they are not violated. We believe that an open and secure internet is essential for the promotion of democracy, human rights, and social justice.
DRIVING CHANGE THROUGH POLICY AND LEGAL REFORM
We work with other organizations and stakeholders to advocate for policy and legal reforms that promote digital rights and freedoms in Uganda. We also monitors the implementation of existing laws and policies to ensure that they are aligned with international human rights standards.
In order to understand the level of compliance, Unwanted Witness conducts an annual legal compliance assessment for selected countries in Africa. The 2023 Privacy Scorecard report was first launched at the 5th Privacy Symposium Africa in Port Louis, Mauritius.
DIGITAL INCLUSION FOR ALL
Our Digital Inclusion and Innovation Program is focused on promoting digital inclusion in Uganda and beyond, particularly among marginalized communities, and fostering innovation in the digital space. The program aims to bridge the digital divide, increase access to digital technologies, and promote the use of digital platforms for social and economic development.
RESEARCHING FOR CHANGE , ADVOCATING FOR IMPACT
We carry out research activities to identify challenges that individuals and communities face regarding digital rights and freedoms in Uganda and beyond. We conduct evidence-based research, which provides a basis for the formulation of policy recommendations that guide our advocacy activities. Through research, we identify the gaps in digital rights and freedoms policies and highlight issues that require urgent attention from policymakers, regulators, and other stakeholders.
LEGAL AID FOR AN EQUITABLE SOCIETY
We are committed to providing legal aid services to individuals who have experienced digital rights violations in Uganda. We understand the importance of legal representation in ensuring that victims receive justice and compensation. We partner with legal organizations and lawyers to provide these services and make them accessible to those who need them the most. We believe that every individual has the right to access justice and receive fair treatment under the law.
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