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Mail & Guardian
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Uganda's parliament ignores rule of law
Robert Kyagulanyi, aka 'Bobi Wine', leader of the National Unity Platform. Rule of law in Uganda is precarious — injustices, atrocities and oppression abnormalities are the norm. Parliament has passed the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, which targets dissenting voices, activists and political opponents. This comes ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2026. The draconian Bill turned into law comes amid the abductions and torture of activists and other people who oppose the government in the Buganda region. Key opposition figures such as Achileo Kivumbi, Edward Ssebuufu ( also known as Eddy Mutwe) and Noah Mutwe are among the thousands who have been subjected to such treatment. Ssebuufu, a bodyguard for National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, went missing on 27 April after being abducted by armed men. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's military chief and son of President Yoweri Museveni, said he was holding Ssebuufu in his Days later, another of Kyagulanyi's bodyguards, Noah Mutwe, was abducted on 15 May by armed men driving a double-cab without number plates. He appeared in court on charges of incitement to violence, hate speech, malicious information and conspiracy to commit a felony related to social media messages. The NUP's head of security, Achileo Kivumbi, was arrested in August 2024 on charges of being in possession of military attire — a T-shirt and cap. He appeared in a general court martial chaired by a brigadier. Veteran opposition politician Kizza Besigye was detained in Kenya and taken back to Uganda where he was transferred to a military court. No extradition proceedings were followed and Kenya denied knowledge of the abduction. He was charged with treason in a civilian court after his case was transferred from a military tribunal. In 2018, Kyagulanyi was first taken to a military court and then transferred to a civilian court on charges of treason. The general court martial is a specialised court set up by the legislative arm to deal with uniformed and military discipline in the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces, not civilians. What is so dangerous about this situation is that martial law is used specifically against Museveni's opponents In January this year, in On 21 May, contrary to the court ruling, parliament passed the Bill allowing military trials of civilians. Museveni and his son still insist on trying civilians in military courts, stating that the move stabilises the country. The president is on record stating that 'civilian courts are clogged with the many court cases of the whole country like murder, rape, assaults, robbery, land matters, divorce matters emphasising that they could not handle gun-wielding criminals quickly'. 'Yet for stabilisation you need speed. Moreover these individuals, although not soldiers, voluntarily and with evil intentions acquired killing instruments that should be the monopoly of the armed forces, governed by the relevant laws.' Museveni's statements hold little substance and 'these individuals' are political opponents and civilians who should not appear in the specialised general court martial. It is against the law and unconstitutional. The legality of this military court was tested in Uganda Law Society vs Attorney General and in 2nd Lt. Ogwang Ambrose vs Uganda. But now Museveni has passed the 2025 Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill. It's clear that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) of the Museveni regime is using the military court as a tool against its political opponents to entrench fear among opposition party members and Uganda's voters. The NRM government has been using political corruption and violence to suppress opposition parties and voters for the past 40 years. My fear is the wrath that is being built and will be unleashed against opponents of the NRM regime ahead of the 2026 elections. Robert Kigongo is a sustainable development analyst.
News24
27-05-2025
- General
- News24
Germany rejects Uganda's ‘subversive activities' accusation
The German Foreign Ministry on Monday dismissed Uganda's accusations that Berlin's ambassador, Mathias Schauer, had been involved in illicit meddling in the East African country's affairs. A ministry spokesperson said that Berlin 'strongly condemned' the allegations, describing them as 'absurd' and 'baseless'. What are Uganda's allegations against the German ambassador? In an X post published on Sunday, Ugandan military spokesperson Chris Magezi said that Kampala had received 'credible intelligence reports' that the German ambassador had been 'actively engaged in subversive activities' in Uganda. He said that Uganda's army would suspend all cooperation with Germany. 'The Uganda People's Defence Forces has with immediate effect suspended all ongoing defence and military cooperation activities with the Federal Republic of Germany,' Magezi said. Ugandan troops participate in an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, a mission partially funded by the European Union. What is the political situation in Uganda? Earlier in the month, Ugandan military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba warned that the EU was 'playing with fire' after a group of European diplomats met senior members of the National Unity Platform (NUP) opposition party, including leader Bobi Wine. Peter Busomoke/AFP Kainerugaba is the son of President Yoweri Museveni and is likely to succeed the 80-year-old strongman, who has been in power since 1986. Wine, who was a popular musician before launching his political career, has been put under house arrest by Ugandan authorities multiple times. Another major Ugandan opposition figure, Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), was jailed in November. Last August, 36 FDC members were charged with terrorism, an accusation rights groups argued was politically motivated. Valerie Macon/AFP Uganda has also been criticised by Western governments and rights groups for a 2023 law imposing penalties of up to life in prison for consensual same-sex relations and containing provisions allowing the death penalty for 'aggravated homosexuality'.
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Uganda suspends military ties with Germany after accusing envoy of 'subversive activities'
Uganda's army has announced the suspension of all military cooperation with Germany after accusing its ambassador, Mathias Schauer, of being involved in "subversive activities" and of being "wholly unqualified" to be in the East African army did not back-up its claim but its decision signals a sharp deterioration in relations between the two nations. Rejecting the accusations, a German foreign ministry spokesperson called them "absurd and without any merit", the Reuters news agency highly unusual attack on Schauer came after he reportedly raised concerns about army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is the president's son, at a meeting last week. On X recently, the general threatened to behead opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Kainerugaba also boasted about torturing Wine's bodyguard after detaining groups have long accused the Ugandan government of targeting the opposition, especially in the run-up to is expected to run against President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for nearly four decades, in an election due next critics allege that the government is run by a family dynasty - his wife, Janet Museveni is the minister of education, and his brother, Gen Salim Saleh, is the chief coordinator of a government programme known as Operation Wealth Saleh held a private meeting with European Union (EU) diplomats last week, where Schauer - Germany's ambassador to Uganda since 2020 - raised concerns about the army chief's controversial tweets, and the "reputational damage" it was causing to Uganda, local media reported. Gen Kainerugaba hit back with a post on Sunday, saying he was "having issues" with the German ambassador "that has to do with him as a person"."He is wholly unqualified to be in Uganda. It has nothing to do with the great German people. Whom I admire a lot," he a separate statement, army spokesman Col Chris Magezi said Uganda was suspending with immediate effect all defence and military cooperation with Germany because of "credible intelligence reports" that Schauer was involved in "subversive activities". "The suspension will remain in force until the full resolution of the matter of the Ambassador's involvement with pseudo political-military forces operating in the country against the Ugandan government," the statement added, without giving evidence to substantiate its its website, Germany's embassy in Uganda said that bilateral trade between the two nations was worth around $335m (£247m) in 2024, and their relationship was based on "stability and trust".It did not give details of military cooperation between the two nations. Uganda is heavily involved in peacekeeping operations, including in Somalia where it is helping to fight armed Islamist groups trying to overthrow the government. You may also be interested in: Anger as Uganda president's son says he's holding opposition bodyguardHow a Ugandan opposition leader disappeared in Kenya and ended up in military courtSocial media ban in Uganda raises questions over regulation in AfricaTikToker jailed for 32 months for insulting Uganda's presidentHow an ex-rebel has stayed in power for 35 yearsUgandan internet propaganda network exposed by the BBC Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Ugandan military accuses EU diplomats of engaging in subversive activities
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Ugandan military authorities on Friday accused diplomats from Europe of engaging in subversive activities, in an escalation of tensions over European criticism of human rights violations by Uganda's security forces. Some European diplomats are mobilizing on behalf 'the negative and traitorous groups opposed' to the government of President Yoweri Museveni, the military said in a statement. The statement singled out the German ambassador, Matthias Schauer, charging that 'the intelligence services are aware about his clearly undiplomatic practices that have been taking place in different parts of the country for some time now.' That statement was issued by Col. Chris Magezi, a close associate of Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the president's son who also serves as Uganda's top military commander. Kainerugaba's military rise has been a source of concern among Ugandans who believe he is poised to take over from Museveni in a chaotic political transition. Kainerugaba frequently asserts his wish to succeed his father as president of the east African country, alarming Ugandans who don't want to see hereditary rule. Kainerugaba has gained notoriety most recently for his unpredictable posts on the social platform X. He has threatened to behead Bobi Wine, a prominent opposition figure, and he drew widespread criticism earlier this month for reporting the apparent torture in his 'basement' of Wine's bodyguard, who was missing at the time. Schauer, the German ambassador, is among a group of European diplomats who complained about Kainerugaba in a meeting on Thursday with Gen. Salim Saleh, a retired army officer who is Kainerugaba's uncle and an influential member of Uganda's security apparatus. Saleh apologized for Kainerugaba's provocative posts on X, according to reports in the local press. The strong response from Kainerugaba's press office on Friday marks an escalation in relations between the Ugandan government and diplomats it accuses of meddling. It was not immediately possible to get a comment from Schauer or Jan Sadek, the top EU diplomat in Uganda. The EU has repeatedly urged Ugandan authorities to protect civil liberties ahead of presidential elections next year. Sadek has expressed concern over serious rights violations that include arbitrary detentions and the degrading treatment of political opponents. He spoke of 'an alarming militarization of the political sphere' in a speech earlier in May. 'The use of military force against civilians, with apparent impunity, contradicts the principles of the rule of law,' he said. Museveni, who first took power by force in 1986, is serving his sixth term. He will seek re-election in polls set for January 2026. Many Ugandans expect an unpredictable political transition because the 80-year-old Museveni has no obvious successor within the ranks of the ruling National Resistance Movement party, with real power concentrated in a strong military and powerful intelligence system. Some observers fear that Museveni may step aside in favor of Kainerugaba in a bloodless coup. A long-time opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, has been jailed since November over alleged treason charges his lawyers say are politically motivated. Besigye, a qualified physician who retired from Uganda's military at the rank of colonel, is a former president of the Forum for Democratic Change party, for many years Uganda's most prominent opposition group. Uganda has never witnessed a peaceful transfer of political power since independence from the British in 1962.
Arab News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Uganda army chief threatens voters who don't choose his father
Nairobi - KENNairobi, May 15, 2025 (AFP) - - The Ugandan president's son said Thursday that any citizen who voted against his father in upcoming polls would be deported, while also banning women in the army from wearing east African country is due to hold a general election in January, and there has been a mounting crackdown on the opposition in recent Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son and heir-apparent of long-ruling President Yoweri Museveni, is infamous for his colourful tweets that touch on everything from military matters to his social Thursday, he posted on X that individuals who "who do not support Mzee wholeheartedly better be very careful!," using an honorific for his father."We will deport all the traitors in public view!!," he this month Kainerugaba claimed to have captured and tortured opposition leader Bobi Wine's bodyguard Eddie Mutwe, who later appeared in court showing signs of torture, according to Justice Minister Norbert another post, Kainerugaba wrote that he took "FULL responsibility" for the actions of his soldiers, "including the long overdue beating of Eddie Mutwe".He added: "That was an appetizer!"Rounding out his string of posts, the commander of the army also said that all serving women would from now on march in skirts."Trousers are for men not for women. Anyone who forces our sisters to put on trousers on parade again will have a very bad day," he a fraction of the Ugandan People's Defence Force (UPDF) is made up of women, and they are issued the same daily uniform as their male counterparts. They are permitted to wear skirts on formal occasions, according to local
