The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Trk, has raised alarm over what he described as a ‘deepening crackdown on Uganda’s opposition and the media ahead of next month’s general election.’
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Trk said credible reports show that at least 550 people-mostly members and supporters of the largest opposition political party, the National Unity Platform (NUP)-have been arrested since the start of the year.
More than 300 arbitrary arrests were recorded after 2025-26 campaigns kicked off in September, with many detainees still in custody on charges ranging from public nuisance and disobedience of lawful orders to assault, obstruction, and incitement of violence.
‘It is deeply regrettable that election campaigns have once again been marked by use of unnecessary or disproportionate force against the opposition, as well as undue restriction of press freedom,’ Trk said.
He urged authorities to ‘cease the use of such repressive tactics’ and allow Ugandans to ‘fully and peacefully exercise their right to participate in their country’s public affairs’ during and after the polls.
Escalating violence on the campaign trail
Presidential campaigns have in recent weeks been marred by deadly confrontations between security forces and mainly NUP supporters.
Armed security personnel have repeatedly deployed at venues and along routes where NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, is scheduled to campaign, often using teargas and live rounds against the two-time presidential candidate. Last week in Iganga, security forces fired live ammunition, killing at least one person and injuring three others.
NUP supporters were also beaten during Bobi Wine’s rally in Kawempe, with video evidence showing dozens falling into a deep ditch and sustaining serious injuries during a chaotic police and army chase.
Security forces have further used teargas, water cannons, whips, batons, attack dogs and chemical irritants to disperse his supporters.
Mr Trk expressed concern over incommunicado detention, enforced disappearances, and torture, saying these abuses have intensified over the past year.
The UN chief cited reports alleging that security operatives continue to use unmarked vans-commonly known as ‘drones’-to abduct individuals who are then held in unofficial detention facilities, often called ‘safe houses’, in violation of international law.
Under international standards, Mr Trk noted, detainees must only be held in officially recognised facilities to prevent abuse.
He referenced several recent incidents, including the May episode in which the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, posted on X that he was holding Bobi Wine’s civilian bodyguard, Eddie Mutwe, in his ‘basement’ and ‘teaching him Runyankore.’
The guard was later produced in court, visibly shaken and exhibiting signs consistent with physical torture. He remains on remand to date.
In another case, two Kenyan activists (Bob Njag and Nicholas Oyoo) who attended a NUP rally in October were allegedly detained for more than a month before being handed back to Nairobi.
President Museveni said the two were being held by his government in what he called ‘the fridge.’
Dozens of other opposition supporters arrested during the 2021 election cycle also remain in detention, Trk said.
‘I urge the Ugandan authorities to fully and impartially investigate all allegations of enforced disappearance, arbitrary arrest and detention, and torture or ill treatment, punish those accountable and provide full reparation to the victims,’ he added.
‘All individuals arbitrarily deprived of liberty should be released.’
‘End violence against journalists’
In his statement, the UN rights chief condemned what he described as an escalating crackdown on Uganda’s media. In October, several journalists from Nation Media Group-Uganda, particularly from NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor, had their parliamentary accreditation withdrawn for unclear reasons, and the same media company has since been barred from covering President Museveni.
Earlier, at least 32 journalists were assaulted, detained, or had their equipment confiscated during the Kawempe North parliamentary by-election in March, prompting NMG-Uganda to withdraw all its reporters from the chaotic polls.
‘The Ugandan authorities must halt all violence against the media and the opposition and act fully in accordance with their obligations under international human rights law,’ Mr. Trk said.