Human Rights Watch on Thursday raised concerns surrounding the arbitrary detention of government critics by the Ugandan military, stating that the authorities hold the individuals in undisclosed locations and subsequently transfer them to civilian authorities for politically motivated prosecutions. The organization said the detentions form part of a broader campaign against opposition figures, lawyers, journalists, and independent media.
HRW deputy Africa director Carine Kaneza Nantulya commented on the alleged human rights violations perpetrated by the military, stating: “No military officer should be able to carry out serious violations with impunity… Uganda’s partners should urgently press President [Yoweri] Museveni’s government to end these abuses, uphold the rule of law, and ensure accountability for those responsible.”
According to HRW, Ugandan security forces have unlawfully detained at least five critics of President Museveni and his son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), since mid-June 2026. The military has also surrounded the premises of Nation Media Group, Uganda’s largest independent media organization, reportedly forcing its television and newspaper to cease operations.
Among the documented cases was the June 15 detention of lawyer Erias Lukwago, who represents opposition politician Kizza Besigye in treason proceedings. Armed soldiers reportedly raided Lukwago’s home and took him to an undisclosed location.
Lukwago was transferred to police custody two days later, charged with treason-related offenses connected to Besigye’s case, and remanded in pretrial detention. Kenyan lawyer and former justice minister Martha Karua, the lead counsel for Besigye, was detained after traveling to Uganda to observe Lukwago’s court proceedings. However, authorities later deported her to Kenya.
Security forces also allegedly detained activist Miria Matembe, journalist Timothy Kalyegira, National Unity Platform deputy president Muwanga Kivumbi, and opposition supporter Andrew Nabimanya. Some revealed abuses suffered during detention, such as being humiliated by being forced to strip naked, pressured to surrender DNA samples, and repeatedly threatened. Kalyegira was charged with utilizing his digital platforms to share sensitive government information, a charge he says is politically motivated due to his role as a whistleblower in exposing corruption involving top government officials.
The reported detentions follow Museveni’s approval of the UPDF Amendment Act, legislation permitting military courts to exercise jurisdiction over civilians in specified circumstances. Rights groups have criticized the act for its role in undermining fundamental human rights, weakening constitutional independence, and existing in contravention of the ruling of Attorney General v. Hon. Michael Kabaziguruka, which ruled that civilians are not allowed to be subjected to military trials.
Previously, Ugandan security forces have been criticized for their use of excessive force against civilians, such as tear gas, pepper spray, arbitrary arrests, and beatings.
HRW said the detentions may violate Uganda’s Constitution and the state’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Facts Only
* Human Rights Watch raised concerns regarding the arbitrary detention of government critics by the Ugandan military.
* Detained individuals are reportedly held in undisclosed locations before transfer to civilian authorities for prosecution.
* The detentions form part of a campaign against opposition figures, lawyers, journalists, and independent media.
* Ugandan security forces allegedly detained at least five critics of President Museveni and General Muhoozi Kainerugaba since mid-June 2026.
* Military forces reportedly surrounded the premises of Nation Media Group, allegedly forcing cessation of operations.
* Lawyer Erias Lukwago was detained on June 15 in connection with treason proceedings involving Kizza Besigye.
* Lukwago was subsequently transferred to police custody and remanded in pretrial detention.
* Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua was detained after traveling to Uganda to observe court proceedings but was later deported to Kenya.
* Other alleged detainees included activist Miria Matembe, journalist Timothy Kalyegira, Muwanga Kivumbi, and Andrew Nabimanya.
* Some detainees reported abuses such as being forced to strip naked and threatened with DNA sample collection.
* The detentions follow Museveni’s approval of the UPDF Amendment Act.
Executive Summary
Human Rights Watch expressed concern over the arbitrary detention of government critics by the Ugandan military, alleging that these individuals are held in undisclosed locations before being transferred to civilian authorities for politically motivated prosecution. The organization stated that these detentions are part of a broader campaign targeting opposition figures, legal professionals, journalists, and independent media. A deputy Africa director commented that military officers should not carry out serious violations with impunity and urged Uganda’s partners to press the government to end abuses and ensure accountability.
Specific allegations include the unlawful detention of at least five critics of President Museveni and General Muhoozi Kainerugaba since mid-June 2026, and the surrounding of Nation Media Group premises, allegedly forcing cessation of operations. Documented cases involve the June 15 detention of lawyer Erias Lukwago in connection with treason proceedings against Kizza Besigye, followed by his transfer to police custody and pretrial detention. Other alleged detentions included activist Miria Matembe, journalist Timothy Kalyegira, Muwanga Kivumbi, and Andrew Nabimanya, with reports of physical humiliation and threats during confinement. These actions follow Museveni’s approval of the UPDF Amendment Act, which permits military courts to exercise jurisdiction over civilians, an act rights groups criticize for undermining fundamental human rights. The detentions are alleged to violate provisions in the Ugandan Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the ICCPR, and the Convention Against Torture.
Full Take
The narrative presents a structural tension between state authority, legal frameworks, and civil liberties, framed by specific institutional actions. The core dynamic involves the assertion of military jurisdiction over civilians, codified by legislation like the UPDF Amendment Act, which rights groups argue fundamentally undermines constitutional independence. The reported actions—detentions followed by politically motivated prosecutions—suggest a mechanism where security forces operate outside established due process, utilizing secrecy (undisclosed locations) to insulate actions from public scrutiny.
The pattern observed is the strategic use of legal and security apparatuses to neutralize dissent. When journalists or activists expose information, the response shifts from transparent legal processes to extra-judicial control, illustrated by the forced cessation of operations against a major media group and specific physical abuses reported during detention. This echoes historical patterns where legislative changes (such as granting military jurisdiction) are used to establish an environment where accountability is suppressed. The implication for human agency is the systemic erosion of rights based on executive prerogative rather than established law.
The absence of direct evidence regarding the mechanisms of "undisclosed locations" or the specifics of the physical abuses forces a focus onto the *potential* violation outlined by international covenants (ICCPR, CAT). The challenge for analysis is to move beyond cataloging incidents to examining how the legal scaffolding—the UPDF Amendment Act—enables and legitimizes these security measures. What system prioritizes the enforcement of military authority over constitutional guarantees when internal mechanisms are designed to conceal accountability?
Bridge Questions:
How does the invocation of broad international human rights covenants interact with domestic legal structures concerning military jurisdiction in Uganda? What verifiable methodologies exist to assess the extent to which legislative acts like the UPDF Amendment Act translate into on-the-ground accountability for detainees? If established patterns show political actors weaponizing security laws, what institutional safeguards can effectively separate executive control from judicial process?
Sentinel — Human
This text reads like standard investigative journalism presenting findings from an established human rights organization, focused on documenting specific allegations and legal context rather than synthesizing new information.