UN rights office cites ‘widespread repression’ in Uganda before next week’s presidential election

The United Nations has issued a stark warning about Uganda’s upcoming presidential election, describing an atmosphere of “widespread repression and intimidation” against opposition figures, journalists, and dissenting voices as the East African nation prepares to vote on January 15.

In a report released Friday, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) detailed how Ugandan authorities have systematically used legal mechanisms, including military legislation, to restrict political activities ahead of the election. The report highlights particularly troubling tactics employed by security forces.

“Next week’s elections in Uganda will take place in an environment marked by widespread repression and intimidation against the political opposition, human rights defenders, journalists and those with dissenting views,” the OHCHR stated in its assessment.

According to the UN body, Ugandan police and military forces have repeatedly used live ammunition to disperse peaceful assemblies. The report also documents a disturbing pattern involving unmarked vans, locally known as “drones,” being used to abduct supporters of opposition parties.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on Ugandan authorities to ensure citizens can “participate fully and safely in the election, as is their right under international law.” He emphasized that security forces must refrain from using “unnecessary or disproportionate force, including lethal force” against peaceful protesters.

The report specifically mentions the ongoing detention of prominent opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who faces treason charges, and Sarah Bireete, a well-known civil society leader accused of unlawfully accessing the national voters’ registry. Both are currently held in a maximum-security prison in Kampala, Uganda’s capital.

Bireete, who runs the Center for Constitutional Governance, was arrested on December 30 after being a frequent commentator on local television and social media platforms. Prior to her arrest, she had described President Yoweri Museveni’s Uganda as “a military dictatorship” masquerading as a democracy in an interview with The Associated Press.

A magistrate’s decision to keep Bireete in jail until January 21 – after the election – has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations. Human Rights Watch condemned her arrest as “a demonstration of the Uganda government’s continuing intolerance of dissent,” while other civic leaders view the timing as politically motivated to silence her commentary during the crucial election period.

President Museveni, 81, is seeking his seventh term in office, having ruled Uganda since 1986. His main challenger is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, better known by his stage name Bobi Wine, a musician-turned-politician who has gained significant popularity, particularly among younger Ugandans.

In a recent interview, Wine told The Associated Press that he and his supporters have been repeatedly targeted by the military, which he accuses of manipulating election preparations to favor the incumbent.

Museveni initially came to power as a guerrilla leader fighting for democratic governance following the brutal dictatorship of Idi Amin. However, critics say he has since consolidated power by systematically removing constitutional safeguards, including term and age limits, while marginalizing political rivals.

State security forces maintain a heavy presence at opposition rallies, creating an environment of intimidation that observers say undermines free and fair electoral processes. Many of Museveni’s former comrades who fought alongside him have become vocal critics, accusing him of betraying the democratic principles they once championed.

As Uganda approaches this contentious election, the historical context is sobering – the country has not witnessed a peaceful transfer of presidential power in the six decades since gaining independence from British colonial rule, raising concerns about the potential for increased tensions as voting day approaches.

Ugandan police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the allegations contained in the UN report.