Uganda: UN Experts Urge Stronger Human Rights Safeguards Ahead Of 2026 Elections

GENEVA (7 January 2026) – As the country approaches general elections on 15 January 2026, UN experts* today warned that the pervasive climate of fear in Uganda, marked by allegations of enforced disappearance, the use of disproportionate force against political opposition supporters, and the intensified suppression of civil society and independent media, is not conducive to peaceful elections.

“It is worrying that the patterns observed in the run-up to the January 2026 elections are very similar to those reported in the 2021 elections, in which at least 18 cases of enforced disappearance were confirmed,” the experts said.

Since the start of the electoral campaign, authorities have reportedly deployed heavy security forces to suppress rallies of the main opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), using chemical irritants, water cannons, and live ammunition at close range, resulting in at least one confirmed death. Allegedly, in 2025 alone, at least 160 cases of enforced disappearances were reported, with security operatives reportedly using unmarked "drone" vehicles to abduct opposition members for incommunicado detention in unidentified "safe houses".

“The permanent deployment of crowd control vehicles, such as water cannons without responding to a specific situation, does not bode well for peaceful elections,” the experts said.

More than 550 NUP members and supporters have reportedly been arrested due to their political activities. Furthermore, the Government has failed to enforce expeditiously a Supreme Court ruling requiring the transfer of the cases from military to civilian courts, the experts stated.

“Taken together, these allegations demonstrate that conditions must be decisively strengthened to ensure the 2026 elections can occur free from violence and reprisals,” the experts said.

They stressed that press freedom and digital rights should not be under simultaneous assault as they have been throughout the campaign period. They noted that, in March 2025, at least 32 journalists were assaulted or saw their equipment damaged during a single by-election. Ugandan authorities have suspended radio programs for "breaching standards" based on vague concepts of "public morality," while reporters have had their accreditations withdrawn for critical coverage of the Parliament. Online dissent is being silenced through the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act.

The experts noted that human rights defenders and civil society organisations have faced arbitrary barriers, including the freezing of bank accounts, delays in permit renewals, and the weaponisation of onerous district-level memoranda of understanding. Organisations working on sexual orientation and gender identity are being systematically denied registration, which is potentially discriminatory pattern based on perceived sexual orientation and reminiscent of a case previously considered by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

Reports of digital surveillance of human rights defenders and civil society leaders, including the hacking of phones and the use of malware and spyware, have emerged in the lead-up to the elections.

“Surveillance practices risk discouraging human rights defenders, civil society organisations, and other associations, which underscores the need to build conditions in which citizens can confidently engage in electionrelated activities,” the experts said. “Ensuring these safeguards is imperative. An active, independent civil society is essential to a credible and resilient preelection process.”

The experts reminded the Ugandan Government of its obligation to ensure the population's participation in public affairs without violence and discrimination.

They urged authorities to stop violence immediately, clarify the fate and whereabouts of the disappeared, cease the use of disproportionate force, and refrain from inherently disproportionate measures such as internet or social media shutdowns.

“Authorities must also conduct prompt, effective, impartial, independent and thorough investigations,holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring that victims of grave human rights violations receive reparation and redress,” the experts said.

“Elections cannot be considered free and fair if the rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression are not fully ensured,” they said. “Closing the space for dissent risks sparking further electoral violence.”

The experts are in contact with the Government on these issues.

Notes:

*The experts:

• Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
• Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
• Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
• Graeme Reid, Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
• Ganna Yudkivska (Chair-Rapporteur),Matthew Gillett (Vice-Chair on Communications), Miriam Estrada-Castillo (Vice-Chair on Follow-Up), Mumba Malila , and Ethan Hee-Seok, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
• Gabriella Citroni (Chair-Rapporteur), Grażyna Baranowska (Vice-Chair), Aua Baldé; Ana Lorena Delgadillo Pérez, and Mohammed Al-Obaidi, Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances

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