A Critical Analysis of the Law on Sexual Harassment in Uganda; A Case of Uganda Prisons

ABSTRACT 

The study critically analyzed the law of sexual harassment in Uganda taking a case study of Uganda prisons Luzila, A central feature of sexual harassment in the workplace is that it essentially involves two sides of a coin, that is to say, an impairment of dignity, self esteem, self worth, respect, individual autonomy, and equality from a positive aspect and freedom from insult, degrading treatment, disrespect, abuse of trust and unfair discrimination from a negative aspect. The overlap between equality and dignity as founding values of the Constitution, constitutionally entrenched rights, and values underpinning the limitation clause in the Constitution is explored with a view to illustrating why sexual harassment is unacceptable in an open and democratic Uganda. A central focus of the research is that the harm of sexual harassment gives rise to various remedies, which are not mutually exclusive. A wide range of data collection methods were used including reference to Ugandan judicial precedent: legislation; selected foreign case law; the Constitution; textbooks; journal articles: feminist theories; and international conventions. The aim is to underscore the impairment suffered by women through sexual harassment, which includes economic harm, psychological harm, unfair discrimination, work sabotage, unequal access to employment opportunities and abuse of organizational power by supervisors The judicial tests, which determine whose perception of the nature of sexual harassment is decisive, are described. The focal point of the thesis advocates a judicial test for identifying sexual harassment, which is gender neutral, objective, and promotes the objects, purport, and spirit of the Bill of Rights by offering equal protection before the law. A critique of the current law on sexual harassment in Uganda is conducted in the light of the common-law principles of vicarious liability. An evaluation is made of how and to what extent the Ugandan case law is compatible with English authorities. This was done by broadening the scope of employment test to include approaches compatible with an abuse of power and trust: frolic of one's own; enterprise risk; mismanagement of duties; and abuse of supervisory authority and the sufficiently close nexus between the wrongful conduct and the employment. Statu/on; vicarious liability in terms of labour law is underscored because it is distinct from the commonlaw principles of vicarious liability in creating an element of deemed personal liability on the part of the employer for failure to take steps and ensure the eradication of gender discrimination. It is observed that women cannot be liberated as a class (gender equality) if they are not liberated as autonomous individuals (dignity). It is concluded that Ugandan law is in harmony with the English authorities on sexual harassment in the workplace and has the potential to deal adequately with sexual harassment cases in the workplace but only if attention is paid to the proposed emphasis and suggestions made in the dissertation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................. i

APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................................. iv

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................... v

LIST OF STATUTES .................................................................................................................... vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................. vii

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... ix

CHAPTER 0 NE ........................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... I

1.2 Background of the Study .......................................................................................................... 2

1.3 Statement of the Problem .......................................................................................................... 3

1.3 General Objective of the Study ................................................................................................. 4

1.4 Specific Objectives of the Study ............................................................................................... 4

1.6 Research Questions ................................................................................................................... 4

1.8 Scope of the Study .................................................................................................................... 4

1.6 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................................. 5

1.9 Significance of the Study .......................................................................................................... 6

1.11 Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 6

1.12 Literature Review .................................................................................................................... 6

1.12 Chapterisation ....................................................................................................................... I 0

CHAPTER TW 0 ........................................................................................................................ 11

THE LAWS ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN UGANDA .................................................... 11

2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. II

2.2 Domestic Legal Framework .................................................................................................... II

2.2.1 The 1995 Constitution of the Republic ofUganda .............................................................. II

2.2.3 Employment Act, 2006 ........................................................................................................ 14

2.3 International Legal and Policy Framework. ............................................................................ 16

2.4 Domestic Policy Framework ................................................................................................... 20

2.4.1 Domestic Institutional Framework ...................................................................................... 21

2.5 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 25

CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................... 26

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAWS ON SEXUAL HARASSMSNET ............................ 26

3.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 26

3.1 Implementation of the Sexual Harassment Laws and Policies by Stakeholders in Uganda ... 26

CHAPTER FOUR ....................................................................................................................... 36

EMPLOYER'S LIABILITY AND REMEDIES AVAIL ABLE ............................................. 36

4.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 36

4.2 Empowering Provisions in Awarding a Remedy for Sexual Harassment Under the Employment Act 2006 .................................. 37

4.2 Dismissal ................................................................................................................................. 40

4.4 Constructive Dismissal ........................................................................................................... 41

4.4 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 43

CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................................ 45

FINDIGS, CONCLUSION, RECOMMNEDATIONS ............................................................ 45

5.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 45

5.1 Findings ................................................................................................................................... 45

5.3 Recommendations ................................................................................................................... 48

5.4 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 50

Bibliography ................................................................................................................................. 52