With national elections just weeks away, a major human rights organization has issued a damning report alleging widespread state-sanctioned violence and arbitrary detention by Ugandan security forces against the political opposition.
In a report released today, Amnesty International accuses Ugandan authorities of torture and mass arbitrary arrests in what it describes as an intensifying campaign of repression aimed at silencing dissent. The country is set to hold a general election on January 15, in which 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni seeks to extend his nearly four-decade rule.
According to Amnesty, its investigators have compiled evidence of security personnel beating protesters and indiscriminately firing tear gas at supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP). The opposition party is led by the singer-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobby Wine, who was President Museveni’s main challenger in the highly disputed 2021 election. That previous vote was widely criticized by international observers and marred by allegations of irregularities and state violence.
The current electoral climate has grown notably more volatile following a deadly incident on November 28, when an NUP supporter was killed at a political rally. Amnesty International states it has documented at least 400 arrests of NUP supporters in recent months alone. Several of those detained have provided testimonies of being beaten, pepper-sprayed, and tasered while in custody.
With the election approaching, there is also mounting fear among civil society groups and opposition figures of a government-imposed internet shutdown, mirroring the blackout that occurred during the 2021 election. The government has officially denied any plans to restrict internet access. However, a government spokesperson reiterated that broadcasting “riots or unlawful processions” remains prohibited.
The allegations presented by Amnesty International paint a picture of a pre-election period defined by fear and crackdown. As Uganda moves toward the January 15 poll, the international community is watching closely, with concerns mounting over the fairness and safety of the electoral process.