Uganda: The Worst Place to Be an Opposition Leader

Uganda continues to rank among the most dangerous places for opposition leaders and their supporters. In a political environment marked by intimidation, police hostility, and systemic persecution of dissenting voices, the struggle for democratic space grows more difficult each year.

Even amidst fear and state-sponsored brutality, the people of Mukono demonstrated remarkable courage. At Kasawo in Nakifuma, hundreds defied intimidation to attend the second rally, standing firm alongside the opposition despite a heavy presence of security forces. Along the entire route, civilians who merely gathered to wave at the convoy were met with violence. Witnesses reported multiple incidents in which police and security operatives attacked unarmed, peaceful citizens—beating, dispersing, and in some cases violently arresting them.

Predictably, the authorities have remained silent about these abuses. Instead, the regime routinely flips the narrative, accusing victims of being aggressive or disruptive while protecting the perpetrators of violence. This pattern has long characterized Uganda’s political landscape, where dissent is met not with dialogue, but with force and repression.

 

Opposition intimidation in Uganda is not new—it is systematic and deeply entrenched. Over the years, activists and candidates have repeatedly reported being followed, threatened, and surveilled. Rallies are frequently blocked, teargassed, or violently dispersed. Security operatives use armored vehicles, rubber bullets, and even live ammunition to suppress gatherings that challenge the ruling establishment.

Abductions have become one of the darkest features of this repression. Numerous accounts describe civilians, especially young opposition supporters, being kidnapped by armed operatives in unmarked “drone” vans. Many are held incommunicado for days or weeks, during which families are denied information about their whereabouts. Some return with stories of torture; others never return at all.

Arrests are often arbitrary, politically motivated, and designed to incapacitate the opposition’s organizing power. Opposition leaders are routinely charged with vague offenses such as “inciting violence,” “unlawful assembly,” or “disrupting public order.”

The Case of Dr. Kizza Besigye

One of the clearest examples of Uganda’s hostility toward opposition figures is the long-standing treatment of Dr. Kizza Besigye, arguably the most persecuted political figure in the country’s modern history.

Dr. Besigye has been arrested dozens of times, often without formal charge or credible justification. He has been detained for long periods without trial, placed under house arrest illegally, teargassed at rallies, and continuously prevented from moving freely within the country. On several occasions, he has been charged with fabricated crimes—including treason—only for the cases to collapse due to lack of evidence.

Despite never having been convicted of any serious offense, Besigye has spent more time behind bars or under forced confinement than many convicted criminals in Uganda. His experience stands as a symbol of what happens to those who boldly challenge the status quo.

While the regime may rely on violence and fear to maintain control, the growing defiance from ordinary Ugandans is undeniable. From Mukono to Arua from the youth to the elderly, people are rising to demand a country built on justice, respect for human rights, and accountable leadership.

A vote for the umbrella is, for many, a vote for something larger than politics. It represents hope for a government rooted in servant leadership—a government that respects the rights of its citizens, values human life, and upholds the principles of good governance.

As history has shown, no regime can suppress the will of the people forever. Just as day follows night, the oppressed people of Uganda believe they will have the final say. And when that day comes, the nation will remember the courage of those who stood firm despite fear, brutality, and relentless intimidation.