ARTICLE 19 is alarmed by the escalating crackdown on civic space in Uganda, marked by the suspension of civil society organisations, and the nationwide internet shutdown before, during, and after the 15 January 2026 elections. The authorities must immediately reinstate the suspended non-governmental organisations (NGOs), refrain from imposing internet shutdowns, and ensure that all people can express themselves and operate freely without intimidation or reprisal.
Uganda’s presidential and general elections, held on 15 January 2026, took place against a backdrop of escalating restrictions on fundamental freedoms. In the period before, during, and after the polls, state authorities adopted measures that significantly curtailed freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. These actions undermined civic space, weakened independent scrutiny of the electoral process, and limited the ability of citizens, journalists, and civil society actors to participate meaningfully in public life.
In the aftermath of the elections, President Yoweri Museveni, who was declared the winner of a seventh term in office at the age of 81, publicly accused opposition actors of being ‘terrorists’ who had sought to use violence to overturn the election results. Such statements, made by the head of state at a highly sensitive political moment, are deeply troubling. Framing political opposition and criticism as a security threat not only stigmatises dissenting voices but also creates justification for further crackdowns on freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
‘The targeting of human rights defenders, the silencing of civil society, and the shutdown of the internet around the elections reflect a deliberate effort to control information and suppress dissent. These actions are incompatible with Uganda’s human rights obligations and severely undermine the integrity of the electoral process,’ said Mugambi Kiai, ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa Regional Director.
Just days after the declared victory, President Museveni’s son threatened to kill opposition leader Bobi Wine, who has been in hiding since polling day and says he has evidence of electoral fraud. This is not the first time that General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has threatened the opposition leader, and the renewed calls for his death are particularly alarming given the current volatile environment and continued crackdown.
At the same time, Bobi Wine, who leads the National Unity Platform, has said he won’t contest the results – the judiciary, he claims, is corrupt and controlled by the government. Instead, he called on the people of Uganda to continue peaceful protests.
Shrinking civic space
In the weeks leading up to the elections, independent human rights defenders and public commentators were increasingly targeted. On 30 December 2025, authorities arrested Sarah Bireete, a prominent human rights defender and outspoken government critic. She is the Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Governance, a Kampala-based human rights organisation, widely known for her commentary on governance, constitutionalism, and accountability through local media and online platforms.
She was arraigned in court on 3 January 2026 and charged under section 35(1) and (2) of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, Cap. 97, for the alleged ‘unlawful obtaining or disclosure of personal data’. Her arrest raises serious concerns about the use of data protection legislation to criminalise legitimate public-interest expression and deter scrutiny of those in power. This case illustrates a broader pattern in which laws are selectively applied to silence dissenting voices, particularly at politically sensitive moments.
Days before polling, the authorities moved to further restrict civic space. On 12 January 2026, the National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organizations ordered at least six non-governmental organisations to immediately and indefinitely cease operations. The suspended organisations included human rights groups, media freedom organisations, and election monitoring bodies. While the Bureau claimed it had received ‘intelligence information’ that the organisations were engaged in activities ‘prejudicial to the law of Uganda’, it failed to provide specific reasons or evidence. The lack of transparency, due process, and the timing of the suspensions strongly suggest an effort to neutralise independent oversight during the electoral period, in violation of the right to freedom of association.
On 13 January 2026, the Uganda Communications Commission ordered a nationwide suspension of public internet access beginning at 6 pm, two days before the elections. The directive cited concerns related to misinformation, electoral fraud, and incitement to violence. In practice, the shutdown severely restricted access to information, impeded election observation and reporting, and curtailed citizens’ ability to communicate, organise, and peacefully express their views. Blanket internet shutdowns are inherently disproportionate and have a chilling effect on democratic participation, particularly during elections.
Although Ugandan authorities partially restored internet services late on Saturday, 17 January, following the declaration of President Yoweri Museveni’s victory and the extension of his rule into a fifth decade, the disruption continues to raise serious concerns. The timing and scope of both the shutdown and its partial restoration underscore the use of connectivity restrictions as a tool of political control, with lasting chilling effects on freedom of expression, access to information, and democratic participation.
The Ugandan government must take urgent and concrete steps to reverse the erosion of civic space and uphold fundamental freedoms. In particular, it should:
- Immediately drop charges against individuals, including human rights defenders and journalists, who are targeted solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
- Reinstate all unlawfully suspended non-governmental organisations and ensure that any regulatory action against civil society is lawful, transparent, and subject to due process.
- Refrain from imposing internet shutdowns or other blanket restrictions on digital communications, including during electoral periods, and ensure access to information for all.
- Guarantee that security forces facilitate, rather than obstruct, peaceful assembly and political participation, and hold accountable those responsible for abuses.
- Fully comply with Uganda’s constitutional and international human rights obligations by creating an enabling environment in which citizens can freely express their views, associate, assemble, and participate in public life without fear of reprisal.