ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This report is a joint publication by the Digital Welfare State and Human Rights Project at
the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice (CHRGJ) based at NYU School of Law in
New York City, United States of America, the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER)
and Unwanted Witness (UW), both based in Kampala, Uganda. The report is based on joint
research undertaken between November 2020 and May 2021. Work on the report was made
possible thanks to support from Omidyar Network and the Open Society Foundations.
Research and drafting for this report, both from Uganda and abroad, has been conducted
by the following individuals (in alphabetical order with organizational affiliation): Katelyn
Cioffi (CHRGJ), Kiira Brian Alex (ISER), Dorothy Mukasa (UW), Angella Nabwowe – Kasule
(ISER), Salima Namusobya (ISER), Nattabi Vivienne (UW), Adam Ray (CHRGJ), Sempala Allan
Kigozi (UW), and Christiaan van Veen (CHRGJ).
Research in Uganda was further supported by the following researchers: Herbert Brenan
Kafumbe (Unwanted Witness), Mugoya Musa (ISER), Kiai Sonia Claudia (ISER), Dominic
Adeeda (ISER), Charleen Guloba (ISER), Labila Sumayah Musoke (ISER), Joseph Byomuhangyi
(ISER), Margaret Nabasirye (ISER), Joshua Kisawuzi (ISER).
Copy editor: Sharon Her
Graphic design: Nou Moua (CHRGJ)
We would like to thank the following persons for generously offering their time to comment
on earlier versions of this report (in alphabetical order): Philip Alston, Laura Bingham,
Yussuf Bashir, Ngozi Nwanta, and Jaap van der Straaten. Any errors in the report are the
sole responsibility of the authors.
Most importantly, we extend our sincere thanks to all the people in Uganda who offered
their precious time to share their personal experiences with us. We will continue to follow
their situation closely, especially those individuals who courageously agreed to be profiled
in this report and associated communications.
How a National Security Approach to Uganda’s National
Digital ID Has Led to Wholesale Exclusion of Women and Older Persons
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