KAMPALA — Uganda is once again at the center of international concern after security forces launched a forceful crackdown on anti-government protests, leaving dozens detained and raising alarms among human rights groups.
The unrest began on July 23, 2024, when young Ugandans, mobilized largely through social media under the hashtag #StopCorruption, poured into the streets of Kampala. Their demands were clear: accountability in parliament and the resignation of Speaker Anita Among, who has been implicated in corruption allegations.
Authorities, however, had already banned the demonstrations, citing fears of looting and vandalism. Heavy security patrols were deployed across the capital. As crowds gathered, clashes quickly followed. According to rights organization Chapter Four Uganda, at least 45 demonstrators were detained on the first day, with police later confirming that more than 100 arrests had taken place over the course of the week.
Those detained face charges ranging from being “idle and disorderly” to “common nuisance,” charges critics say are relics of colonial-era law used to stifle dissent. At least five were formally remanded to custody, while many others await hearings.
A Government Under Fire
President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for nearly four decades, is facing increasing criticism for what observers describe as a pattern of silencing dissent. Uganda’s youthful population, most under 35 has become a powerful voice online, yet their attempts to take grievances to the streets have been consistently met with police batons, teargas, and mass arrests.
Rights groups, including Amnesty International, condemned the crackdown, calling it a “manifest clampdown on dissent.” Amnesty has demanded the unconditional release of those detained for exercising their right to peaceful assembly.
A Pattern of Repression
This is not an isolated incident. In recent years, Ugandan authorities have routinely broken up protests linked to political opposition and environmental campaigns. More than 80 activists opposing oil and pipeline projects have been arrested since 2024, and allegations of torture and harassment remain widespread.
The specter of past violence also looms large. In 2021, security forces killed more than 50 people during political unrest. Human rights watchdogs warn that Uganda is sliding deeper into authoritarian tactics as the country approaches the 2026 elections.
Legal and Political Fallout
In May 2025, Parliament passed a controversial law reauthorizing military courts to try civilians, a move seen as another tool to intimidate government critics. Uganda’s main opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), claims that more than 2,000 people have been kidnapped or detained since the beginning of this year.
Meanwhile, protesters vow to continue their campaign for accountability. “We will not be silenced,” one activist told reporters, “corruption is killing our future.”
International Response
So far, the crackdown has drawn criticism from international rights organizations, though global leaders have yet to impose any serious political cost on Kampala. Observers say the coming months will test whether the world chooses to pressure Museveni’s government or watch as Uganda drifts further into authoritarian rule.
