By Jumah Kakomo
Uganda’s opposition political parties have jointly condemned what they describe as an escalating government crackdown characterized by arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture of political activists, and restrictions on democratic freedoms.
Setting aside longstanding political differences, leaders from the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Justice Forum (JEEMA), People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), and People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) gathered at the UPC headquarters in Kampala on Wednesday to call for the restoration of constitutional order and an end to what they termed state-sponsored abductions.
Addressing a joint press conference, UPC President Jimmy James Akena said Uganda continues to face serious human rights challenges, highlighting the impact of sexual violence on survivors. He said many victims experience abandonment, long-term trauma, and delayed access to justice. Akena referenced the Daily Monitor report titled Raped. Defiled. Abandoned., published on June 24, 2026, and called for comprehensive medical, legal, and psychosocial support for survivors.
Akena also alleged that several opposition leaders, including former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, had been abducted and unlawfully detained. He further claimed that lawyers representing opposition politicians have faced intimidation, while some foreign legal practitioners and human rights advocates, including Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua, have reportedly been denied entry into Uganda or deported while attempting to participate in politically sensitive legal proceedings.
He also expressed concern over media freedom, alleging that independent media outlets, including NTV Uganda and Daily Monitor, have faced closures and other restrictions because of their perceived critical coverage of the government.
Akena further claimed that international human rights organizations have raised concerns about Uganda’s human rights record, arguing that alleged impunity and heavy-handed policing threaten constitutional democracy.
FDC Vice Chairperson Robert Centenary Franco urged Ugandans to remain united in defending their constitutional rights and freedoms. He said the party would continue speaking out against what it considers human rights violations and pledged to remain “the voice of voiceless Ugandans” in promoting democracy and respect for human rights.
Representing the People’s Front for Freedom, Proscovia Salaamu Musumba criticized the government’s approach to governance, describing it as outdated. However, she emphasized the importance of dialogue between opposition parties and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to promote peace, strengthen democratic institutions, and foster national development.
JEEMA Chairperson Muhammad Kibirige Mayanja warned that Uganda risks reversing its democratic gains if the current political situation persists. He called for accountability for those responsible for alleged human rights violations, saying justice should be pursued in accordance with the law.
PFF’s Philip Michael Lulume Bayigga alleged that democratic governance and judicial independence have steadily declined, creating what he described as an environment of impunity. He further claimed that opposition leaders continue to face harassment, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detention, citing opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye, whom he said remains in detention on treason-related charges.
PPP Secretary General David Alira called for equal treatment of all Ugandans, saying every citizen deserves equal protection under the law regardless of political affiliation.
The opposition leaders collectively urged the government to uphold the Constitution, respect fundamental human rights, and ensure that security agencies operate within the confines of the law.
The Ugandan government has consistently maintained that its security agencies act lawfully in preserving national security and public order. Authorities have repeatedly rejected allegations of systematic human rights abuses, enforced disappearances, or politically motivated persecution, insisting that all security operations are conducted in accordance with the law.
