Opinion: Boda Boda Riders ,The Dark Mechanisms of Repression in Uganda

In recent years, Uganda has been gripped by a sinister wave of repression, with human rights violations escalating to unprecedented levels. The recent revelation that a shadowy intelligence group has purchased approximately 150 motorbikes from a motorbike loan company in the Ntinda-Naguru area, specifically to track and tail activists, highlights the lengths to which the regime is willing to go to suppress dissent.

These motorbikes, handed over to individuals tasked with monitoring and intimidating activists, symbolize a chilling new phase in Uganda’s strategy of control. The riders, who have been instructed to wear brown shoes as a signal for identification, have become a menacing presence in the lives of those who dare to speak out against the government. This seemingly small detail—brown shoes—now represents a broader and deeply troubling reality for Ugandans living under constant surveillance.

Uganda’s human rights record has been increasingly marred by such tactics. According to Human Rights Watch, the 2021 elections were marred by widespread violence, with over 50 people killed in just two days of unrest following the arrest of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine. The Ugandan government’s response to dissent has been characterized by abductions, torture, and extrajudicial killings, all of which paint a bleak picture of the state’s disregard for human life and basic freedoms.

The motorbike surveillance scheme is not an isolated incident but rather part of a broader pattern of repression. Activists and opposition figures have been increasingly targeted through various means, including arbitrary arrests and the deployment of specialized units to monitor and harass them. The state’s intelligence apparatus has expanded its reach, using technology and human resources to tighten its grip on those perceived as threats.

Statistics from the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) underscore the severity of the situation. In 2023 alone, the commission received over 1,500 complaints related to torture, arbitrary detention, and other forms of human rights abuse, a significant increase from previous years. Many of these cases remain unresolved, with victims receiving little to no justice.

The use of motorbikes to tail activists is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who challenge the status quo in Uganda. It also reflects the government’s growing reliance on covert operations to stifle opposition. The presence of these riders, identifiable by their brown shoes, serves as a constant reminder that in Uganda, freedom comes at a high cost.

This trend of surveillance and intimidation must be seen within the context of a broader erosion of civil liberties in Uganda. The government’s increasingly authoritarian stance is not only a threat to individual freedoms but also to the country’s democratic institutions. The international community must take notice of these developments and pressure the Ugandan government to respect human rights and the rule of law.

The deployment of motorbikes to track and monitor activists is a disturbing indicator of the lengths to which Uganda’s government is willing to go to maintain its hold on power. The use of brown shoes as a signal for identification may seem trivial, but it is emblematic of a much larger, more dangerous trend of state-sponsored repression. As the situation in Uganda deteriorates, it is crucial for both local and international actors to stand in solidarity with those who are fighting for justice and freedom, often at great personal risk.