The UN has condemned Uganda for an intensifying crackdown on dissent after January's election that extended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni's rule. UN rights chief Volker Türk warned authorities are silencing critics and creating a climate of fear. The warning followed the collapse and hospitalisation of opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who has been detained since November 2024. The UN says dozens of opposition figures, journalists and activists have faced abuses and urges investigations and protections for civil liberties.
UN Demands End To Uganda's Crackdown On Dissent After Opposition Leader Collapses
Detained Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye is put in an ambulance after he collapsed while attending a court session where he is on trial for treason, at the High Court in Kampala, Uganda, July 29, 2026 [Abubaker Lubowa/Reuters]
The United Nations has publicly condemned the Ugandan government's escalating crackdown on dissent, calling on authorities to protect fundamental freedoms and halt abuses against critics, journalists and civil society.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, issued a sharp rebuke on Thursday, saying the authorities are increasingly targeting dissent and deepening restrictions on basic rights.
"I am appalled that the authorities are increasingly targeting any form of dissent, and deepening restrictions on the fundamental freedoms of all those living in Uganda. Those who dare to speak out are silenced." — Volker Türk
The warning followed the hospitalisation of 70-year-old opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who was reported unresponsive after collapsing during a court hearing. Besigye, who has been in custody since November 2024, was attending a treason trial when he collapsed and was taken to an ambulance outside the High Court in Kampala on July 29, 2026 [Abubaker Lubowa/Reuters].
The UN Human Rights Office says repression has intensified since the 15 January general election, when Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 81, was declared president for a seventh term. According to the UN statement, at least 50 opposition leaders and supporters, five journalists and five human rights advocates have been subjected to abuses that include arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance and torture.
In addition, the statement says 10 civil society organisations have been forcibly suspended and several others face harassment and official scrutiny. Authorities have also ordered the temporary closure of some media outlets.
Turk warned that these actions are "creating a climate of fear that is increasing self-censorship, further stifling public debate, and deepening polarization." He urged Ugandan authorities to prevent military interference in civilian institutions, to investigate allegations of abuse, and to use the country's resources to improve living standards and uphold human rights for all citizens.
What Comes Next: The UN is calling for urgent, credible investigations into reported abuses, the release or humane treatment of detainees where appropriate, and immediate measures to safeguard the rights of journalists, civil society and political opponents.
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