Uganda military accused of abducting critics and stifling dissent, HRW says

Uganda’s military has been arbitrarily detaining government critics, holding them incommunicado and later handing them over for what it described as politically motivated prosecutions in an escalating crackdown on dissent, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report released on Saturday.

The rights group said at least five critics of President Yoweri Museveni and his son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), had been unlawfully seized by security forces since mid-June. It also accused the military of targeting independent media and civil society organizations.

“President Museveni’s government is increasingly using the military as a cudgel against dissent and criticism,” Carine Kaneza Nantulya, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch said in the report.

Human Rights Watch urged the Ugandan government to respect constitutional protections, end arbitrary detentions and ensure accountability for alleged abuses committed by security personnel.

Among the cases highlighted was that of Kampala lawyer Erias Lukwago, who was seized by armed soldiers ono15 June. According to HRW, Lukwago was preparing to serve legal summons on Kainerugaba in connection with a lawsuit when he was taken to an undisclosed location.

The organization said Kainerugaba later appeared to acknowledge Lukwago’s detention through posts on X, including one showing what HRW said appeared to be the lawyer blindfolded. Lukwago was held for two days before being taken to a police station, charged with treason-related offences linked to opposition politician Kizza Besigye’s case and remanded in custody, HRW said.

The report also cited the detention and subsequent deportation of Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua after she arrived in Uganda to observe Lukwago’s court proceedings.

HRW said veteran activist Miria Matembe was detained by soldiers on 28 June, held for two days at an undisclosed location before being charged with promoting sectarianism and later released on bail. The rights group said Kainerugaba also claimed responsibility for her detention in a social media post.

Journalist Timothy Kalyegira and opposition figure Muwanga Kivumbi were among other critics whom HRW said had recently been detained by security forces, while opposition supporter Andrew Nabimanya alleged he was held for five days, subjected to intimidation and warned against publishing anti-government material online.

Beyond individual arrests, Human Rights Watch accused the military of laying siege to the premises of Nation Media Group Uganda, forcing the country’s largest independent media company to halt operations after publishing coverage critical of the government.

The report said Uganda had also indefinitely suspended at least 10 non-governmental organizations since January and warned that a new Protection of Sovereignty Act could further restrict civil society through tighter controls on foreign funding.

Human Rights Watch said Uganda’s constitution limits military arrests of civilians and requires detainees to be held only in legally authorized places. It added that Uganda is bound by regional and international human rights treaties guaranteeing due process, freedom of expression and protection from arbitrary detention.

The organization called on Uganda’s authorities to end the crackdown on critics, independent media and civil society, investigate alleged abuses by security forces and hold those responsible to account under existing anti-torture and human rights laws.