Challenges of Human Rights Organizations in Promoting Human Rights: A Case Study of Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (Fhri) Kampala-Uganda

ABSTRACT The study looked at challenges of Human Rights Organizations in promoting Human Rights. It was carried out by Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, Kampala — Uganda. Its specific objectives were to find out the process through which the effectiveness of FHRI is evaluated, to identify the importance of impact assessment as far as FHRI is concerned and to investigate major challenges facing FHRI towards its effectiveness. It was also based on the views of various scholars through a deductive approach from qualitative measures of the study. The study findings on Human Rights effectiveness revealed that evaluation is done by an employee of the organization at the end of the year. There is also staff participation in the clarification of the organization’s mission and its activities. Findings on the benefits associated with evaluation included, need for continuous growth support, access of information, balancing transparency and security. However the challenges faced included; illiteracy and poverty among beneficiaries, balancing donors’ demands and organizational goals, cultural practices contradicting with the ideas of human rights organizations, financial problems and language barrier. It was concluded that, after the clarification of the organization’s mission and activities, evaluation of external and internal sources is done to review available resources in order to set performance indicators, FHRI gets support from various stakeholders for continuous growth support and identification of long term problems in performance and the major challenge was the illiteracy among beneficiaries. The study recommended need for FHRI to; conduct evaluation regularly, involve stakeholders in the evaluation process, adopt an uplifting reporting system, strengthen learning communities and maintain constant collaboration and to make an effort to identify the needs of its beneficiaries.