This brief underlines rights of health workers in the national response on COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the obligations of the State towards safeguarding rights and safety of health workers involved in the provision of health care to suspected cases and persons infected with COVID-19 virus and during the provision of emergency services as part of the heightened response to the pandemic.

In this brief, we note that the government of Uganda should be commended for its efforts in combating the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, we acknowledge that more efforts should be put in ensuring the protection of health workers as they execute their work of saving people’s lives. The brief makes the following recommendations as critical for the protection of the rights of health workers: