Activists Call on EU to Stop Bankrolling Dictatorship in Uganda

Advocates Demand End to Hypocrisy over Human Rights Violations

Activists are set to gather at the European Union (EU) London offices on April 12, 2024, urging the EU Commission, President Ursula von der Leyen, and High Representative Josep Borrell to cease funding dictatorship in Uganda. The call comes amidst growing concerns over human rights violations and poor governance in the East African nation.

Organizers of the demonstration are urging EU leaders to follow the example set by the United States Department of State, Secretary Antony Blinken, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who have imposed targeted sanctions and travel bans against Ugandan dictator Yoweri Museveni and his regime’s enforcers. The move follows the disputed 2021 elections, which saw Museveni extend his three-decade rule amid allegations of fraud and repression.

At the heart of the activists’ demands is an end to the ongoing repression, human rights abuses, abductions, torture, and illegal detention of political prisoners in Uganda. They also decry the use of military courts to try civilian activists on trumped-up charges, highlighting the erosion of democratic principles and the rule of law under Museveni’s regime.

The demonstration aims to shine a spotlight on the plight of Ugandan citizens who have been subjected to harassment, intimidation, and violence for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Activists argue that the EU’s financial support to the Ugandan government only serves to perpetuate the cycle of repression and impunity, undermining efforts to promote democracy and respect for human rights.

As pressure mounts on the EU to reassess its relationship with the Ugandan government, campaigners are calling for concrete action to hold perpetrators of human rights abuses accountable and to support civil society efforts to advance democratic reforms in Uganda.

The demonstration is expected to draw attention from policymakers, human rights advocates, and concerned citizens, amplifying calls for justice and accountability in Uganda. It represents a critical moment in the global fight against dictatorship and authoritarianism, underscoring the importance of international solidarity in safeguarding democracy and human rights worldwide.