Introducing the SpaceUG Threat Monitoring Tool: Strengthening Protection for Civic Space

Across Uganda and many parts of the world, civic actors  including human rights defenders, journalists, activists, and community leaders are working under increasing pressure. From intimidation and surveillance to online harassment, legal threats, and misinformation campaigns, these challenges can limit people’s ability to organize, speak out, and defend rights safely.

Recognizing these realities, the Rural Smiles Foundation has developed and now publicly introduced the SpaceUG Threat Monitoring Tool  a digital platform designed to help document, analyze, and respond to threats affecting civic space. After internal testing, user feedback, and technical refinements, the tool has recently been improved to make it more secure, accessible, and responsive to real-world needs.

This marks an important step toward strengthening protection mechanisms for civil society actors operating in complex and sometimes restrictive environments.

Why a Threat Monitoring Tool Is Needed

Threats against civic actors often go unreported or undocumented. Sometimes this is due to fear of retaliation; other times it is because there is simply no safe, structured way to record incidents. Without reliable data, it becomes harder to:

• Respond quickly to emerging risks
• Provide targeted support to affected individuals
• Advocate effectively for civic space protections
• Identify patterns that may signal wider systemic issues

The SpaceUG Threat Monitoring Tool was created to help address this gap. It provides a structured way for individuals and organizations to safely report concerns, track trends, and strengthen collective responses.

What the Tool Does

At its core, the Threat Monitoring Tool supports safer documentation and analysis of incidents affecting civic space. It allows for:

• Secure reporting of threats and incidents
• Categorization of risks such as digital attacks, harassment, legal intimidation, or safety concerns
• Monitoring of patterns over time to inform advocacy and protection strategies
• Better coordination among civil society actors responding to risks

The system is designed to be accessible even in contexts with limited bandwidth and varying levels of digital literacy, recognizing that many civic actors operate in resource-constrained settings.

What Has Improved Recently

The latest improvements to the SpaceUG Threat Monitoring Tool focus on usability, security, and responsiveness. Based on feedback from early users and partners, enhancements have included:

• Stronger safeguards around sensitive information
• Improved mobile accessibility and user interface
• Better categorization of threat types
• More efficient internal tracking for follow-up and response

These improvements are part of an ongoing process rather than a final product. Civic risks evolve quickly, and the tool must continue adapting accordingly.

Community-Driven Development

Although this is the first public introduction of the Threat Monitoring Tool, its development has been shaped from the beginning by real community experiences. Input from activists, journalists, civil society partners, and grassroots actors has influenced how the tool works, what it prioritizes, and how it communicates risks.

This collaborative approach helps ensure the platform is not purely technical but grounded in lived realities. It also strengthens trust, which is essential for any system dealing with sensitive safety information.

Beyond Monitoring: Supporting Protection

Documentation alone is not enough. The ultimate goal of the Threat Monitoring Tool is to contribute to safer civic engagement. The information gathered can support:

• Early warning and prevention strategies
• Advocacy for stronger protections
• Evidence-based policy dialogue
• Collaboration among civil society organizations
• More informed donor and partner support

By strengthening how threats are understood and tracked, civil society actors can respond more strategically and collectively.

Looking Ahead

The launch of the improved Threat Monitoring Tool is not an endpoint — it is part of a broader commitment to protecting civic space through technology, collaboration, and evidence-based advocacy. Future priorities include expanding partnerships, enhancing digital security features, improving data visualization for advocacy, and exploring additional ways to support defenders at risk.

As civic environments continue to evolve, so too must the tools designed to protect them.

A Shared Responsibility

Protecting civic space requires collective effort. Civil society organizations, communities, technology partners, policymakers, and international allies all play a role in ensuring that those who defend rights can do so safely.

The SpaceUG Threat Monitoring Tool is one contribution to that shared effort  practical, evolving, and grounded in the realities faced by the communities it aims to support.