Opinion: Museveni’s Nepotism, Repression, and a Brutal Disregard For Human Rights

Uganda’s political landscape under President Yoweri Museveni has long been dominated by nepotism, authoritarianism, and a brutal disregard for human rights. The incident involving comrade Sanya , who was coerced into wearing regime party colors and forced to recite scripted words, is yet another example of the regime’s desperate attempts to crush dissent and manipulate public perception. Despite being forced to participate in this charade, Sanya was still subjected to physical abuse, as seen when a military officer strangled him before dragging him into a truck. This treatment of political detainees reflects the oppressive tactics that have become the hallmark of Museveni’s regime.

For more than 38 years, Museveni has ruled Uganda with an iron fist, consolidating power through fear, patronage, and the systematic erosion of democratic institutions. His long stay in power has allowed him to entrench nepotism, appointing family members and close allies to key positions in government, military, and security forces. His son, Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has been steadily groomed for power, and Museveni’s inner circle is filled with loyalists who benefit from their proximity to the presidency. This concentration of power within a small elite has fostered corruption and crippled Uganda’s governance.

Human rights violations have become a daily reality under Museveni’s reign. Political opponents, activists, and journalists face arbitrary arrests, torture, and detention without trial. Comrade Sanya’s experience, as well as the detention of other political activists for four years without trial, is emblematic of this pattern of repression. These comrades were denied the chance to voice their frustrations publicly and were held in deplorable conditions. The regime eventually coerced them into pleading guilty to trumped-up charges in exchange for a hollow promise of freedom—a tactic meant to break their spirits and silence their resistance.

This is not an isolated incident. The use of military courts to prosecute civilians, the silencing of opposition voices through force, and the state’s systematic harassment of critics reflect a government that is more concerned with maintaining power than upholding the rule of law. Museveni’s regime has consistently undermined democratic processes, manipulated elections, and used the security apparatus to intimidate and brutalize those who dare to challenge the status quo.

But as history has shown, such repression cannot last forever. One day, the people of Uganda will rise and say, “Enough is enough.” The long-standing grievances of a population oppressed by nepotism, corruption, and human rights violations will eventually reach a boiling point. The growing discontent is already evident among the youth, civil society, and the opposition, who refuse to be silenced despite the brutal consequences.

The regime’s coercion of political prisoners like Sanya , forcing them to confess to crimes they did not commit, is a desperate attempt to legitimize its unjust actions. However, the truth cannot be hidden forever. The Ugandan people are becoming increasingly aware of the regime’s tactics, and the widespread demand for justice is growing stronger by the day.

The arc of Uganda’s future bends towards a moment when the people will demand accountability for the years of nepotism, repression, and abuse. Museveni’s grip on power, though seemingly unshakeable, will eventually loosen, and the voices of those he has tried to silence will rise louder than ever.

When that day comes, Uganda will not only rid itself of an oppressive regime but will also reclaim its dignity, democracy, and freedom. Museveni’s long stay in power may have brought suffering to many, but it has also sown the seeds of a powerful resistance movement, one that will ultimately prevail in its quest for justice and liberty.