Uganda has rolled in the minority countries in the ranking of the Rule of Law Index Score. The rule of law has once again eroded in majority of countries this year, according to the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2023.

With the latest index, Uganda’s score has increased, ranking 28th out of 34 regionally in the Sub-Saharan Africa, and 125th out of 142 surveyed countries globally.

The region’s top performer is Rwanda, ranking 41st out of 142 surveyed countries globally, followed by Namibia and Mauritius, then Tanzania ranks 98th while Kenya ranks 101st globally.

The index score reveals that the rule of law factor to decline most between 2016 and 2023 is fundamental rights; down in 77% of countries including Uganda.

Also, the index indicates that two thirds of countries (66%) saw their index scores for Civil Justice fall this year, up from 61% of countries last year, largely blamed on greater justice delays and weaker enforcement.

Uganda bucked up the trend and is among those that saw an improvement in its Civil Justice score.

“The World remains grappled by rule of law recession characterized by executive overreach, curtailing of human rights, and justice systems that are failing to meet people’s needs.” says WJP president, William Neukom.

On the list globally, the top-ranked country in the 2023 WJP Rule of Law Index is Denmark, followed by Norway (2), Finland (3), Sweden (4), and Germany (5).

And in the same way from the bottom ranking countries are Venezuela (142), Cambodia (141), Afghanistan (140), Haiti (139), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (138).

The countries that improved their rule of law score most 2022-2023 are Bulgaria, Honduras, Kenya, Slovenia, and Jordan. Honduras was also a top improver last year.

The countries with the biggest rule of law declines in the past year are Sudan, Mali, Iran, Nicaragua, and Afghanistan.

The World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index is the world’s leading source for original, independent data on the rule of law.

Now covering 142 countries and jurisdictions, the Index relies on more than 149,000 household surveys and 3,400 legal practitioner and expert surveys to measure how the rule of law is experienced and perceived worldwide.