Ugandans in the UK Condemn Rising Human Rights Abuses and Tribal Conflicts Under Museveni’s Regime

Ugandans residing in the United Kingdom have voiced strong concerns over the intensifying human rights abuses and tribal conflicts reportedly fueled by Uganda’s current administration under President Yoweri Museveni. This dismay follows recent actions by the Ministry of Lands, with Minister Sam Mayanja allegedly playing a prominent role in exacerbating tensions, particularly through contentious land policies that have sparked community divisions and unrest.

Speaking out at various community gatherings and online forums, the Ugandan diaspora in the UK has decried what they describe as systematic rights violations, social injustices, and corruption that has led to widespread suffering, particularly among marginalized communities. Key issues raised by the Ugandans include land grabbing, unlawful evictions, and the use of land allocation as a means to reward political allies, often at the expense of local communities who depend on these lands for their livelihoods.

According to activists, the Museveni government has increasingly employed tactics aimed at stifling dissent, using land ownership disputes to divide ethnic groups and weaken opposition strongholds. Minister Mayanja, appointed by President Museveni in 2021, has faced mounting criticism for his role in enforcing policies perceived as unjust and for allegedly using tribal divisions to consolidate power.

“The land issues we’re seeing in Uganda are not just about land; they are about power and control,” said Diana Namusoke, a human rights advocate based in London. “Minister Mayanja and others in the administration are leveraging these conflicts to suppress voices that challenge the regime, creating a hostile environment where community members are pitted against each other.”

In recent years, several reports from international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have detailed a range of abuses in Uganda, from the silencing of political opponents to violent crackdowns on protests. Many Ugandans in the diaspora, including those in the UK, have called on the international community to intervene, advocating for sanctions against Ugandan officials responsible for human rights abuses.

The community of Ugandans in the UK has been particularly active in organizing awareness campaigns, urging British lawmakers to pressure the Ugandan government to adopt more transparent land policies and to put an end to what they describe as state-sponsored violence and manipulation. Leaders in the diaspora hope that a united global outcry will push for change and bring an end to the suffering endured by citizens in Uganda.

For now, the Ugandans in the UK are determined to amplify their voices through continued advocacy, hoping that their efforts will draw attention to the ongoing injustices faced by their compatriots back home.