The United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has cautioned Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni against the arbitrary apprehension and detention of activists and opposition politicians.
In a statement on Wednesday, December 4, Volker weighed in on the intensifying crackdown on the opposition in Uganda ahead of next month’s general elections.
He accused the Ugandan government of allegedly contravening human rights and freedom through arbitrary detentions, as well as enforced disappearances and torture of opposition supporters and activists.
Volker specifically pointed out the enforced disappearance of two Kenyan activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who were allegedly apprehended in Kampala, Uganda, on October 1 and released after nearly 40 days.
Museveni told the media in November that he kept the two in a 'fridge' while admitting the Ugandan government had taken the two Kenyans into custody, despite telling the court otherwise.
The UN boss criticised Museveni for allegedly orchestrating the abduction with the help of his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who heads the country's military.
"In a recent case, two Kenyan activists, who were arbitrarily detained in Uganda shortly after attending an opposition rally in October," Volker noted.
Adding, "They were handed over to the Kenyan authorities after more than a month of incommunicado detention in what the Ugandan President called 'the fridge'."
According to the UN chief, for instance, in May this year, the head of Uganda's military posted on his X platform that he was holding the bodyguard of the opposition leader Bobi Wine in his “basement”.
Following a public outcry, the bodyguard was later presented in court, visibly shaking and showing other signs of physical torture. Yet, the court never reacted to such signs of torture or ill-treatment.
Volker further disclosed that dozens of other opposition supporters are still in detention after they were arrested in connection with their political activities at the last elections more than four years ago.
While condemning the anarchy witnessed in Uganda, Volker called on Museveni's administration to immediately probe all allegations of enforced disappearance, arbitrary arrest and detention.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also called on the Ugandan government to uphold the right to freedom of expression, following multiple recent cases of restriction of press freedom in the country.
