By John Mutiso
The United Nations has raised alarm over Uganda’s repression of opposition figures and the media, issuing a warning after two Kenyan activists were abducted and held incommunicado for more than a month.
Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo were abducted shortly after attending an opposition rally in October and were detained in what Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni, referred to as ‘the fridge.’
In the wake of the harrowing ordeal, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has urged Uganda to act decisively on allegations linked to these detentions.
“I urge the Ugandan authorities to fully and impartially investigate all allegations of enforced disappearance, arbitrary arrest and detention, and torture or ill treatment, punish those accountable and provide full reparation to the victims.
“I also call on them to end this pattern of repression. All individuals arbitrarily deprived of liberty should be released,” he said in a statement on Wednesday, December 3.
Türk further condemned what he described as a worsening clampdown on opposition groups and the press ahead of Uganda’s general election scheduled for next month.
He appealed to the Ugandan government to uphold human rights throughout the electoral period.
According to Türk, evidence gathered shows that at least 550 people, including supporters and members of the National Unity Platform (NUP), have been arrested since the start of the year.
In addition, more than 300 of those arrests occurred after campaigns kicked off in September.
At the same time, many detainees are still being held and face charges ranging from public nuisance and disobedience of lawful orders to assault, obstruction, and incitement of violence.
Türk noted that security forces have also heightened their presence at locations designated for NUP rallies.
For instance, according to the UN Chief, in Iganga, officers reportedly fired live bullets, killing one person and injuring at least three others last week.
“It is deeply regrettable that election campaigns have once again been marked by widespread arbitrary arrests, detentions and the use of unnecessary or disproportionate force against the opposition, as well as undue restriction of press freedom.
“I urge Ugandan authorities to cease the use of such repressive tactics to enable Ugandans to fully and peacefully exercise their right to participate in their country’s public affairs on election day, and in its aftermath,” he added.
