Top human rights activists from several African countries have expressed fears that Uganda’s upcoming General Election will not be free and fair.
Speaking under the banner of the Pan African Solidarity Movement, the activists said President Yoweri Museveni has demonstrated a clear intention to suppress the will of the people, warning that Uganda’s electoral process requires urgent international attention.
Addressing journalists in Kampala, the activists — Godber Tumushabe (Uganda), Godwin Toko (Uganda), Arthur Larok (Uganda), Agather Atuhaire (Uganda), Tito Magoti (Tanzania), Nana Busia (Ghana), Omhle Ntshingila (South Africa), Don Deya (Kenya) and Kivutha Kibwana (Kenya) — said their primary objective is to formally alert national authorities, international development partners, diplomatic missions, election observers and monitors, and the global community to the compromised conditions under which the elections are expected to take place.
“The current trajectory points to an electoral process marred by systemic violence, administrative exclusion, the weaponisation of law enforcement, and the pervasive militarisation of civic space, fundamentally undermining the principles of a free, fair and credible democratic exercise,” the activists said in a joint statement.
They raised concern over what they described as the normalisation of electoral violence.
“Throughout the pre-election period, we have documented a consistent pattern of election-related violence. These incidents include the forceful disruption of opposition campaign activities, physical assaults on opposition supporters and candidates, arbitrary arrests, and the prolonged detention of political actors,” the activists said.
They also alleged administrative exclusion and the narrowing of political choice in Uganda’s electoral process.
“The integrity of the nomination process has been systematically undermined through the instrumentalisation of administrative and regulatory procedures to restrict political participation,” they said.
Activists from the Pan African Solidarity Movement during a past civil society forum. They’ve raised concerns over fairness in the upcoming Uganda’s General Election. (Africa Rising)
According to the group, numerous candidates, largely from opposition parties and independent movements, have faced arbitrary barriers, including sudden de-nomination, denial of mandatory clearances and persistent legal challenges that effectively remove them from the ballot late in the electoral cycle.
The activists further expressed concern over the securitisation and militarisation of the electoral process, arguing that the heavy security presence risks turning elections into controlled security operations rather than democratic exercises.
“The conspicuous presence of armed forces discourages open participation and disproportionately affects women, young people and first-time voters,” the movement said.
They also criticised Uganda’s judicial system, alleging the abuse of judicial processes to settle political contests. In addition, the activists raised alarm over arbitrary arrests, media repression and threats to internet freedom.
Among their demands, the group urged Ugandan authorities to immediately de-escalate and demilitarise election-related operations.
“We urge individuals within the UPDF, the Uganda Police Force, the Electoral Commission and the Judiciary who are undermining the rule of law, due process and citizens’ rights to remember that following illegal orders ‘from above’ is not a valid defence,” the statement said.
They also called on the Uganda Communications Commission to unequivocally commit to maintaining uninterrupted internet access throughout the entire electoral period, and urged the international community, including diplomatic missions and election observers, to intensify preventive measures, openly denounce documented electoral malpractices and refrain from legitimising a fraudulent election.
“The credibility of Uganda’s 2026 elections will not be determined solely by polling-day procedures, but by the overall political and civic environment established ahead of the vote,” the activists said.