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Concerns over abductions, enforced disappearances, and broader human rights abuses continue to cast a long shadow over Uganda’s political landscape as the country approaches the January 2026 general elections. For many Ugandans, the current climate evokes painful memories of the violence and repression that marked previous electoral cycles, particularly the disputed 2021 polls.
In recent months, international scrutiny has intensified. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has repeatedly warned the Ugandan government about a growing pattern of repression targeting opposition politicians, activists, and independent media. He has urged authorities to halt the use of violence, investigate reports of enforced disappearances, and ensure accountability for arbitrary arrests as the election period draws closer.
Domestic reports paint a troubling picture. Since early 2025, human rights groups and opposition leaders say at least 550 people—most of them linked to the National Unity Platform (NUP), led by opposition figure Bobi Wine—have been arrested. Opposition rallies have reportedly been met with heavy security deployments, with allegations that live bullets were used to disperse gatherings.
Several high-profile cases have further fueled public concern. In late 2025, two Kenyan activists were reportedly abducted after attending an opposition rally in Uganda and held for 40 days. President Yoweri Museveni later confirmed that the state was involved in their detention, a rare admission that reignited debate about the conduct of security agencies.
The government, however, has strongly rejected accusations of systematic abuse. Officials argue that those arrested are suspected of plotting rebellion and insist that all detainees will be charged in court. Authorities have also accused the United Nations of unfairly singling out Uganda, describing the country as a “soft target” for international criticism.
These developments revive memories of the January 2021 general election, which saw President Museveni secure a sixth term amid widespread allegations of fraud, violence, and abductions. Opposition leaders at the time claimed that more than 3,000 NUP members were detained before and after the polls. In February 2021, Bobi Wine released a list of 243 people he said were still missing.
A subsequent report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights documented at least 1,096 election-related abductions, with 18 individuals still unaccounted for at the time of reporting. Many of the alleged abductions followed a similar pattern: late-night arrests carried out by plain-clothed operatives using unmarked vehicles—often referred to locally as “drones.”
International concern was swift. The United States ambassador to Uganda cited “deep and continuing concern” over extrajudicial detentions and enforced disappearances. Domestically, the Minister of Internal Affairs acknowledged that some incidents involved “numberless tinted vehicles” and promised investigations, though only a fraction of reported cases were officially resolved.
As Uganda heads toward another critical election, rights groups warn that unresolved abuses from the past, combined with fresh allegations, risk deepening public mistrust in state institutions. For many citizens, the central question remains whether the country can break the cycle of election-related violence and ensure a process grounded in accountability, transparency, and respect for fundamental human rights.
