National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda

What National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda does

The National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda (NCHRD-U) is a registered membership-based non-profit coalition founded in June 2013 and headquartered at Plot 148 Ssemawata Road, Ntinda, Kampala, Uganda. The organization coordinates, protects, and advocates for Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) — individuals and civil society organizations who act to promote or protect human rights. As of the most recent reporting period, the coalition comprises approximately 149 member organizations drawn from across Uganda, organized regionally through Technical Thematic Working Groups covering Central, Western, Eastern, and Northern regions. A General Assembly serves as the supreme decision-making body, and a nine-member Board of Directors provides governance oversight.

NCHRD-U delivers its mandate through three core service pillars: (1) Protection, Safety & Security Management, which includes rapid emergency response, a 24-hour toll-free helpline (0800100250), an urgent protection fund, fact-finding missions, and a referral network linking HRDs to legal aid, psychosocial, financial, and healthcare providers; (2) Capacity Building, covering personal and organizational security training, digital security, monitoring and documentation of violations, and legal compliance support; and (3) Advocacy & Networking, encompassing lobbying, thematic working groups, research, and engagement with international human rights mechanisms including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the African Commission on Human Rights and People's Rights (ACHPR). Research publications include the annual Civic Space Index Report (2021–2024 editions), bi-annual risk assessments, and HRD profiling documentation. The portfolio is service- and advocacy-oriented rather than technology-platform-based; no proprietary software products, APIs, or AI/ML systems are disclosed.

The coalition operates with a secretariat of approximately 15 staff under Executive Director Robert Kirenga (in role since August 2017), supported by Finance and Administration, Project Coordination, M&E, Communications, Advocacy & Networking, Capacity Building, Protection and Emergency, and Program Assistant functions. Revenue is dominated by project-based grants from international development partners — USAID, the Netherlands Embassy in Kampala, the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), the European Union, East-West Management Institute (EWMI), DanChurchAid, Diakonia, and Civil Rights Defenders — supplemented by modest annual membership subscriptions of 100,000 UGX (individual) and 200,000 UGX (organization). All direct services to HRDs are provided free of charge.

Name

National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda

Legal name

National Coalition for Human Rights Defenders – Uganda

Website

https://hrdcoalition.ug

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda (NCHRD-U) is a membership coalition founded in 2013 that coordinates, protects, and advocates for Human Rights Defenders across Uganda through 24-hour emergency response, capacity building, referral networks, and policy advocacy, serving 149 member organizations and funded primarily by international development partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Rights Protection Services (Civil Society Coalition)

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAFAB

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYBPADAHAF

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Refugee, Migration & Displacement Services

Keywords

• Human rights protection
• Civil society coalition
• Rights defender support
• Emergency response services
• Capacity building training

Headquarters

HQ city

Kampala

HQ country

Uganda

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership subscription fees from individual HRDs (100,000 UGX) and organizations (200,000 UGX). This is a recurring revenue stream from the membership base.
2. Development Partner Grants and Funding: Primary funding from international development partners including USAID, Netherlands Embassy, Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), EU, and other donor organizations. The organization receives project-based grants and programmatic funding to support HRD protection activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NCHRD-U is a Ugandan membership coalition that protects and coordinates Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) through rapid emergency response, security training, and collective advocacy. Its core services are Protection/Safety/Security Management (24-hour helpline, urgent protection fund, fact-finding missions, referral to legal/medical/psychosocial services), Capacity Building (training in security management, digital security, monitoring/documentation), and Advocacy & Networking (policy advocacy, thematic working groups, UPR/ACHPR engagement). Membership is open to individual HRDs and organizations through annual subscription, with 149 member organizations currently participating.

Product overview

NCHRD-U operates as a membership coalition offering three interconnected core services: Protection, Safety & Security Management (including 24-hour helplines and emergency response), Capacity Building (security training and digital security), and Advocacy & Networking. The organization produces research publications including the annual Civic Space Index Report. Additional offerings include a referral network connecting HRDs with legal, medical, psychosocial, and financial service providers. The portfolio does not constitute a technology platform or software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Protection, Safety & Security Management Rapid and emergency response support services for Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) within NCHRD-U membership, enabling HRDs at risk to access legal, medical, and psychosocial services. Includes a 24-hour toll-free helpline, an urgent protection fund, and fact-finding missions. Target users: registered member HRDs and HRD organizations facing threats, intimidation, harassment, detention, or violence.
• Capacity Building Program Training and strengthening programs for HRDs to manage personal and organizational security, including monitoring, documentation and reporting of human rights violations; legal compliance; safety and security management; digital security training; and database management. Target users: individual HRDs and member HRD organizations.
• Advocacy & Networking Collaborative advocacy program working with national organizations to promote legislative and policy changes that serve and protect HRDs. Includes lobbying, thematic working groups, research and documentation, and international engagement through UPR and ACHPR mechanisms. Target users: HRDs, member organizations, and policy stakeholders.
• Civic Space Index Report Annual research publication providing comprehensive analysis of the state of civic space in Uganda, evaluating freedoms of expression, assembly, association, citizen participation, inclusion, and rule of law from a citizen-centered perspective. Target users: HRDs, policymakers, civil society, donors, and international human rights bodies.
• HRD Documentation and Profiling Program to document and profile Human Rights Defenders across Uganda's regions and thematic areas to increase visibility and highlight challenges faced by defenders. Target users: civil society, donors, international human rights mechanisms, researchers, and the broader public.

Quantifiable outcome

• HRD Members coordinated through the coalition
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Civil Rights DefenderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil Rights Defenders is listed as a partner organization working on human rights defender protection in Uganda.
• Defend Defenders (Uganda Defend Defenders)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDefend Defenders works in partnership with NCHRD-U on joint grants management and HRD protection programs. Organizations collaborate on sub-grant management for HRD support.
• Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUHRC is listed as a partner. The commission is a statutory body that promotes and protects human rights in Uganda, providing institutional linkages for NCHRD-U's work.
• United Nations Human Rights CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCHRD-U co-convenes the HRD cluster on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and submits country situation reports on HRD situation to the UN Human Rights Council through this partnership.
• African Commission on Human Rights and People's Rights (ACHPR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCHRD-U engages with ACHPR by generating Bi-Annual reports on the situation of HRDs in Uganda for submission to this regional human rights body.
• DanChurchAid (DCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCA is implementing partner on the 36-month MDA project for human rights monitoring and documentation in the Mid-Western and Karamoja sub-regions.
• Witness Radio UgandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWitness Radio Uganda is a partner on the MDA project focusing on monitoring, documentation and advocacy for human rights in Uganda.

Scale indicators4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• International Service for Human Rights (ISHR): International NGO supporting human rights defenders engaging with UN human rights systems. Comparable to NCHRD-U's advocacy and UN HRC/ACHPR engagement work, though focused on multilateral advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• Amnesty International Uganda: Large international human rights organization with an active Uganda presence. Operates a broader human rights portfolio than NCHRD-U's HRD-specific mandate but shares the human rights advocacy and documentation function.

Direct peers

• Witness Radio Uganda: Partner on the MDA project with NCHRD-U. Works on human rights monitoring, documentation, and advocacy in Uganda, overlapping with NCHRD-U's advocacy and networking service line.
• Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI): Uganda-based human rights organization focusing on access to justice, civic space, and human rights education. Operates in the same Ugandan civil society ecosystem and is a likely coalition partner for NCHRD-U.
• Human Rights Centre Uganda (HRCU): Uganda-based human rights organization whose former Executive Director was the previous Board Chairperson of NCHRD-U. Overlapping mission in human rights promotion and protection in Uganda.
• Front Line Defenders: International HRD protection organization providing emergency grants, training, and advocacy for at-risk defenders. Closely comparable in mission and service offering to NCHRD-U's protection pillar.
• Protection International: Global NGO focused on protection of human rights defenders through security management, advocacy, and policy work. Directly comparable to NCHRD-U's protection and capacity-building services.
• Civil Rights Defenders: Sweden-headquartered HRD protection organization listed as a core partner of NCHRD-U. Runs thematic programs on HRD protection, legal aid, and capacity building that overlap with NCHRD-U's core services.
• Defend Defenders: East Africa–focused HRD protection organization that partners with NCHRD-U on joint grants management. Operates a comparable protection, monitoring, and advocacy model for HRDs in the region and is directly listed as a strategic partner.
• Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-U): Uganda-based NGO focused on media rights and journalist protection. The Board Chairperson of NCHRD-U is the Executive Director of HRNJ-U, and the two organizations coordinate on journalist-HRD cases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-coalition-of-human-rights-defenders-uganda

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda