By Ben Musanje
The Democratic Party (DP), led by Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao, was notably absent as a coalition of opposition political parties formally petitioned the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), calling for urgent intervention over alleged abductions, illegal detentions, torture, political persecution and the shrinking of civic and democratic space in Uganda.
The engagement, organized under the Joint Democratic Platform (JDP), took place at the Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) House in Naguru—the same premises that host Mao’s Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs offices. The Uganda Human Rights Commission recently relocated its headquarters to the JLOS building after vacating Rumees Towers on Lumumba Avenue.
Despite being one of Uganda’s oldest opposition political parties, the Democratic Party did not send representatives to the high-level engagement, leaving other opposition parties to present what they described as a united position on the country’s deteriorating human rights situation.
Among the parties represented were the National Unity Platform (NUP), People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), Justice Forum (JEEMA), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Democratic Front (DF), and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
Leading the delegation, People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) Deputy Chairperson Dr. Michael Lulume Bayiga said the coalition deliberately sought engagement with the Uganda Human Rights Commission because of its constitutional mandate to investigate human rights violations and protect citizens against abuse of power.
“We have come to the Uganda Human Rights Commission because it is one of the most important institutions in this country that is supposed to guard us against human rights abuse by those who hold power,” Bayiga said.
He explained that the opposition was presenting what it termed a “Paper of Engagement” rather than a conventional petition, saying the objective was to establish continuous engagement with the Commission in addressing recurring human rights concerns.
Bayiga emphasized that the Commission derives its powers from Articles 52 and 53 of the Constitution, which authorize it to investigate human rights violations on its own initiative, inspect detention facilities, promote respect for human rights and recommend remedies for victims.
Quoting Article 52, Bayiga reminded the commissioners that they possess authority not only to inspect prisons and police cells but also “places of detention,” which he said could include alleged illegal detention facilities commonly referred to by opposition politicians as “safe houses” or “basements.”
“The Commission can investigate on its own initiative,” Bayiga said. “That is why we have confidence that through this institution Uganda can remain on the democratic path.”
The opposition’s engagement paper alleges that Uganda has experienced a sustained pattern of enforced disappearances, illegal arrests and prolonged detention of opposition supporters, particularly since the 2021 general election period.
According to the document, armed operatives travelling in unmarked vehicles—popularly known as “drones”—have allegedly abducted opposition supporters, campaign agents and activists before taking them to undisclosed detention facilities where they are allegedly held incommunicado.
The paper alleges that many detainees are denied access to lawyers, relatives and medical treatment, while some are held for weeks or months without being produced before court, contrary to the Constitution’s 48-hour rule.
Bayiga argued that the Uganda Human Rights Commission has sufficient constitutional powers to proactively investigate such allegations instead of waiting for victims to file complaints.
The coalition also accused state agencies of increasingly prosecuting civilians before military courts on charges such as unlawful possession of military stores despite court decisions limiting military jurisdiction over civilians.
According to the engagement paper, lengthy pre-trial remand has effectively become political imprisonment for many opposition supporters.
Another concern raised was what the coalition described as the shrinking of Uganda’s civic and democratic space.
The document accuses authorities of restricting political assemblies, interfering with religious gatherings, suppressing media freedom and intimidating journalists covering opposition activities.
It further alleges that political affiliation increasingly influences access to public employment, government procurement opportunities and other state services, contrary to constitutional guarantees of equality.
The coalition also expressed concern over what it described as the growing militarization of civilian administration.
Bayiga argued that military personnel are increasingly deployed in civil administration and routine policing, a trend the opposition believes undermines civilian institutions and democratic governance.
“Our country is now militarized, and that has consumed the civic space,” he said.
People’s Front for Freedom Attorney General Moses Tugume expanded on the coalition’s legal arguments by citing provisions of the Uganda Human Rights Commission Act, particularly Section 7, which empowers the Commission to inspect any place where a person is suspected to be unlawfully detained.
He urged the Commission to remind government institutions of Uganda’s obligations under international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Tugume argued that belonging to a political party is a constitutionally protected right and warned against what the coalition described as increasing criminalization of political dissent.
“The Constitution guarantees freedom of association and political participation,” he said, adding that Article 75 prohibits Uganda from becoming a one-party state.
The engagement paper sets out several recommendations that the coalition wants the Commission to implement.
Among them are unannounced inspections of military intelligence facilities, police detention centres and suspected illegal detention facilities; a national inquiry into alleged abductions and enforced disappearances since 2021; summoning senior security officials to account for missing persons; enforcing compensation awards made by the Human Rights Commission Tribunal; and advising Parliament on reforms to laws including the Public Order Management Act and the Computer Misuse Act.
The coalition also wants the Commission to establish an emergency hotline for journalists facing intimidation, investigate alleged political discrimination in public employment and procurement, and create a permanent liaison mechanism between the UHRC and opposition political parties.
The proposed framework would include a 24-hour human rights reporting hotline, quarterly meetings between opposition leaders and the Commission, as well as joint human rights monitoring during election periods.
National Unity Platform Deputy President for Western Uganda Jolly Jackline Tukamushaba also addressed the Commission, recounting her experiences of detention and alleging that she was once held in an undisclosed detention facility commonly referred to as the “Basement.”
She appealed to the Commission to establish the whereabouts of NUP Deputy President for Buganda Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, whom the party says remains missing.
“Today is the 17th day and we do not know where he is. Is he alive? Is he dead? Is he detained? Is he in the Basement?” Tukamushaba asked.
She urged the Commission to exercise its constitutional independence and proactively investigate alleged disappearances involving opposition politicians.
Meanwhile, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Chairman Saddam Gayira offered a different perspective, arguing that the struggle for human rights should not only focus on alleged government abuses but should also extend to political parties themselves.
Gayira observed that violence and intolerance during internal party elections across the political spectrum risk reproducing similar practices when parties eventually assume power.
“When we beat each other within our own parties and even require police to protect us from ourselves, then we should ask whether we are preparing to govern differently,” he said.
He called upon the Human Rights Commission to monitor internal democratic practices within political parties and encourage respect for human rights regardless of political affiliation.
The engagement paper, endorsed by eight opposition political parties, concludes that constitutional governance, national unity and economic justice cannot coexist with enforced disappearances, illegal detention, political imprisonment, media suppression and discrimination based on political belief.
The coalition urged the Uganda Human Rights Commission to fully exercise its constitutional powers to inspect suspected detention facilities, investigate alleged abuses on its own initiative, defend media freedom, enforce constitutional safeguards and strengthen accountability through continuous engagement with political stakeholders.
The Democratic Party’s absence from the meeting drew attention because of its historical role within Uganda’s opposition politics and because its president, Norbert Mao, currently serves as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in the National Resistance Movement (NRM)-led government under a cooperation agreement signed between the DP and the ruling party in 2022.
Neither the Democratic Party nor Mao publicly explained the party’s absence from the engagement.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission had not publicly responded to the specific allegations and recommendations contained in the opposition’s paper at the time of the meeting. The allegations presented represent the position of the Joint Democratic Platform and have not been independently verified. Ugandan security agencies have consistently maintained that their operations are conducted within the law and in accordance with the Constitution. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
