War-torn districts in northern Uganda did not participate in local council elections in late 1997. With parliamentary approval, the president names a judicial commission that oversees judicial appointments. The judiciary is still influenced by the executive despite increasing autonomy. It is also constrained by inadequate resources and the army's occasional refusal to respect civilian courts. Local courts are subject to bribery and corruption.
Prison conditions are difficult, especially in local jails.
More than 500 prisoners die annually due to poor diet, sanitation, and medical care. Serious human rights violations by rebel groups and the Uganda People's Defense Forces have been reported. Freedom of assembly for banned political parties is formally proscribed, but such groups meet without interference. The Uganda Human Rights Activists, the Uganda Law Society, and the Foundation for Human Rights Initiatives are among nongovernmental organizations that focus directly on human rights issues. The official Human Rights Commission, which has limited legal powers, began hearings on alleged human rights violations in November and has received substantial international support.