US EditionUN rights office cites 'widespread repression' in Uganda before next week's presidential election
The U.N. reports arrests, abductions, and use of live ammunition against opposition ahead of the Jan. 15 election, highlighting laws that entrench repression since 2021.
- The UN Human Rights Office said the upcoming presidential election in Uganda will be marked by widespread repression and intimidation against the opposition.
- Ugandan authorities have restricted the activities of politicians and others through measures like military legislation and using lethal force to disperse protests.
- Opposition figures like Kizza Besigye and Sarah Bireete have been detained, with critics accusing the government of silencing dissent before the election.
16 Articles
16 Articles
The presidential and legislative elections to be held on 15 January in Uganda will take place in a context " marked by widespread repression and intimidation" of the opposition, denounced on Friday the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
Five days before the presidential elections in Uganda (15 January 2026), a coalition of civil society organizations — Ugandan and regional — warned of a deterioration in the electoral climate, denouncing the militarization of the election and intimidation aimed at the opposition, as well as the voters. On Friday, 9 January, during an online exchange, several activists and experts called for the de-escalation and protection of public freedoms.
Uganda: police repression in lead-up to elections
Amnesty International reported Jan. 5 that Ugandan security forces have unlawfully targeted opposition rallies with excessive force and arbitrary arrests, with some detainees subject to torture and other mistreatment. Documented incidents include the use of tear-gas, pepper spray and beatings against peaceful crowds in the localities of Kawempe and Iganga in November. An eyewitness in Kawempe described the use of dogs to “intimidate the crowd,” …
Ugandan Election: Democracy Under Siege?
The UN Human Rights Office warns of wide repression and intimidation against the opposition in Uganda's upcoming presidential election. Authorities allegedly use military tactics to suppress dissent, with key opposition figures detained. Critics label the government as intolerant of dissent under President Museveni's long rule.
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