Rights Group Demands Accountability and Due Process Amid Rising Detentions in Uganda

Ugandan human rights activists and civil society organizations are raising alarm over the treatment and detention conditions of political figures and citizens. The campaign group Agora Discourse released a public statement challenging state security apparatuses regarding recent detentions, calling for strict adherence to constitutional guarantees.

The statement follows a series of high-profile arrests and detention proceedings in Kampala, which have drawn sharp criticism from legal observers and human rights advocates.

Urgent Calls Over Prison Conditions and Health Concerns

Public attention has intensified around the ongoing legal proceedings involving former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who faces charges including misprision of treason. Lukwago, currently in custody, has previously voiced grave concerns in court regarding his deteriorating health and the inadequacy of prison facilities to accommodate his medical needs.

In an emotional address during a recent court appearance, Lukwago highlighted his struggle with severe health issues in confinement:

“The medical team advises me to keep in a well-ventilated place, yet you know the conditions of the prisons. All I can say to Allah, if you can take me, my Lord, the God who created me, kindly take me without a lot of pain.”

Supporters and human rights advocates have launched online campaigns under hashtags such as #SaveEriasLukwago and #FreeEriasLukwago, demanding urgent medical intervention and specialized care for the politician.

Scrutiny Over Arrest Procedures

Concurrently, Agora Discourse issued a formal response addressing the arrest of citizen Praise Aloikin Opoloje. State authorities stated that Opoloje was lawfully apprehended, but human rights monitors dispute the assertion, alleging that due process was bypassed during the initial apprehension and questioning.

The organization raised specific legal questions surrounding the sequence of custody:

• Constitutional Rights: Citing Article 23 of Uganda’s Constitution, activists contend that suspects must be informed of their rights immediately upon arrest, granted access to legal counsel, and produced before a court within 48 hours.

• Prohibition of Abuse: Monitors emphasized Article 24 and Article 44(a), which protect individuals from torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment while in custody.

Debate on Legal Bounds and Digital Regulation

The detentions highlight an ongoing national debate over freedom of speech, cyber laws, and state authority in Uganda. Government authorities argue that arrests are conducted within the framework of national security and existing communication laws, such as the Computer Misuse Act, to maintain public order.

Conversely, rights groups and defense lawyers maintain that such laws are frequently weaponized to penalize political dissent and suppress criticism of government officials. Civil society organizations continue to urge state agencies to show total transparency, abide by constitutional mandates, and respect human rights throughout all legal processes.