Sub-offices in the towns of Gulu and Moroto have already closed in recent weeks.
“I regret that our office in Uganda had to close after 18 years, during which we were able to work closely with civil society, people from different walks of life in Uganda as well as cooperate with government institutions to promote and protect human rights for all Ugandans,” said Volker Turk , the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement.
He adds that progress has been made over the years, but that “serious human rights challenges remain”.
In particular, Turk expresses concern ahead of the 2026 elections in light of the “increasingly hostile environment in which human rights defenders, civil society actors and journalists operate”.
The government has not commented on the closure. The opposition in the country, on the other hand, is critical of the decision.