Uganda Accused of Brutal Crackdown on Opposition Supporters Ahead of Elections

JOHANNESBURG – Ugandan security forces are facing renewed scrutiny after Amnesty International accused authorities of waging a “brutal campaign of repression” against opposition supporters as the country moves closer to national elections.

In a statement released on Monday, the human rights organisation said it had documented widespread abuses against supporters of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), including excessive use of force at campaign rallies, arbitrary arrests and cases of torture or other ill-treatment while in custody.

According to Amnesty International and multiple local sources, more than 400 people have been arrested in recent weeks for attending opposition rallies or for being perceived as NUP supporters. Many of those detained were reportedly charged with offences such as incitement to violence, obstruction and assaulting police officers, although Amnesty says evidence suggests some were arrested solely because of their political affiliation.

“The authorities have launched a brutal campaign of repression against the opposition and its supporters,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. “This has made it extremely difficult for people to exercise their rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly.”

Rallies disrupted with force

Amnesty documented several incidents in which security forces broke up peaceful NUP gatherings using tear gas, pepper spray and physical violence. In Kawempe, a Kampala suburb, witnesses said police and military officers dispersed crowds on 24 November shortly after the arrival of NUP leader and presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine.

An eyewitness told Amnesty that officers fired tear gas and pepper spray into the crowd, triggering panic and a stampede that caused dozens of people to fall into a nearby ditch. Police dogs were reportedly used to intimidate attendees, while some people were beaten with batons and wires or forced into police vehicles at gunpoint.

A similar scene unfolded four days later at Iganga’s Railway Grounds in eastern Uganda. According to one rally attendee, military personnel blocked one of the exits with a truck before opening fire as people attempted to leave through the remaining exit. A 35-year-old man, Miseach Okello, died during the incident, while an unknown number of others were injured.

Okello’s family told Amnesty International that armed officers prevented them from observing the postmortem examination and that they were never given a death certificate or informed of the cause of death.

“Nobody should die simply for exercising their rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly,” Chagutah said, calling for impartial investigations and accountability for those responsible.

Police later claimed opposition supporters had stoned officers and vandalised vehicles, but eyewitnesses at both rallies disputed that account, saying the crowds were peaceful and carried only Ugandan flags.

Movement restrictions and blocked campaigns

Beyond violent dispersals, Amnesty reported what it described as systematic efforts to frustrate opposition campaigning through roadblocks and movement restrictions. Verified video footage from Nwoya district showed security forces using military vehicles to block an opposition candidate and supporters from reaching campaign venues.

Interviewees told Amnesty that roads were frequently closed or opposition processions diverted onto longer routes without explanation, apparently to delay or cancel rallies. NUP officials said Bobi Wine himself was prevented from reaching campaign venues in several districts.

Under international law, restrictions on peaceful assembly must be lawful, necessary and proportionate. Amnesty said the measures it documented did not meet those standards.

Allegations of torture in custody

Some of the most serious allegations concern the treatment of detainees after their arrest. Four people interviewed by Amnesty said they were tortured or subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment following the Kawempe rally. They described being beaten with batons, pepper-sprayed in the mouth and tasered.

One detainee, identified as Peter to protect his identity, said he was arrested on his way home from work and held for three days without access to family members. He lost a tooth and suffered a broken arm as a result of beatings, injuries confirmed by medical reports reviewed by Amnesty.

Another detainee, Harrison, said police accused them of “destabilising the country” before assaulting them. A third interviewee, Maria, described being repeatedly beaten after confirming she still supported Bobi Wine.

“They asked me, ‘Do you still support Bobi Wine?’ I said yes. Then they continued to beat me,” she said.

Calls for accountability

Amnesty International urged Ugandan authorities to immediately release anyone detained solely for attending opposition rallies or for their actual or perceived support for the NUP. The organisation also called for independent investigations into alleged unlawful killings and abuses by security forces.

“Ugandan authorities must commit to respecting, protecting and promoting human rights before, during and after the elections,” Chagutah said.

Uganda has a long history of disputed elections and allegations of state violence against opposition groups.