Open Records Laws › Uganda

Uganda

The Access to Information Act

The Access to Information Act, 2005

Open Records Transparency: 65/100 (good) Transparency Score: 65/100

RTI Rating: 97 (source)

Response Timeline

Initial Response
21 days
Residency Required
None

21 working days from receipt of request. No formal extension provision, but delays may occur in practice. Failure to respond within deadline constitutes deemed refusal.

How to Submit a Request

Accepted Methods

  • Written — Written request to information officer
  • Oral — Oral requests for those unable to write

Requests to designated information officer of public body. No reasons required. One of earliest FOI laws in East Africa (2005).

Required Elements

  • Name and address of requester
  • Description of information sought
  • Preferred form of access

Fees

No fee to file request. Photocopying and reproduction fees prescribed by Minister. Fees must be reasonable and not exceed actual costs.

Fee Waivers

  • Fees waived if disclosure is in public interest

Exemptions

  • National Security
    Information affecting national security or defense
  • International Relations
    Information affecting international relations
  • Law Enforcement
    Information prejudicing law enforcement or investigations
  • Privacy
    Personal information constituting unreasonable invasion of privacy
  • Commercial Confidentiality
    Trade secrets and commercially confidential information
  • Cabinet Documents
    Cabinet memoranda and deliberations

All exemptions subject to harm test and public interest override. Information disclosed if public interest outweighs harm. However, implementation has been weak with frequent misuse of exemptions.

Appeal Process

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Three-tier process: internal review, Uganda Human Rights Commission, judicial review. Commission serves as oversight body but lacks strong enforcement powers. Implementation has been weak despite relatively strong law on paper.

Sources & References