A leading human rights organisation has raised urgent concerns over what it describes as a pattern of violent repression by Ugandan security forces targeting opposition rallies ahead of the country’s upcoming elections. Amnesty International says security personnel have repeatedly used excessive force, arbitrary arrests and, in some cases, lethal tactics against peaceful supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Documented incidents include the firing of tear gas and pepper spray into crowds in Kawempe and Iganga, along with beatings using batons, wires and even rifle butts. Witnesses in Kawempe reported officers deploying dogs to intimidate attendees, while in Iganga, security forces allegedly blocked an exit with a truck before opening fire, killing at least one person and injuring several othersJURIST+1.
Rights groups say the violence forms part of a broader campaign to disrupt opposition mobilisation. Amnesty International has verified digital evidence of movement restrictions and rally blockades designed to hinder NUP events across multiple districts. More than 400 people have reportedly been arrested for attending or being perceived as supporters of opposition gatherings, according to civil society monitorsAfrica Newsroom.
The crackdown comes as President Yoweri Museveni’s government faces growing scrutiny over its handling of political dissent. Observers warn that the escalating force—combined with bans on live broadcasts of protests—signals a tightening environment for political competition as the election approaches.
Human rights advocates are calling for independent investigations and urging Ugandan authorities to uphold constitutional protections for peaceful assembly. They argue that the current trajectory risks deepening political tensions and undermining public confidence in the electoral process.
