Four members of the Lubaga Social Justice Centre, a local human rights organization, who were arrested in a January 3, 2025, security operation have come forward with allegations of severe torture and intimidation at the hands of security operatives.
The activists who include Fahad Kabuye, Alaisa Naiga, Nicklette Alanga and Kaiza Mustapha were arrested on allegations of computer misuse, accused of using their devices to make derogatory comments about First Son and Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and First Lady Janet Kataha Museveni.
According to the four, their ordeal began when they were abducted from their office in Lubaga and held incommunicado in a safe house for 12 days, only to be released unconditionally on Wednesday.
They claim they were subjected to various forms of torture, with Naiga further alleging that she experienced sexual harassment while in custody.
“We were blindfolded, beaten and interrogated for hours without food or water. Throughout the ordeal, they also subjected me to verbal sexual harassment,” she recounted, adding that their captors confiscated their phones and computers.
Upon release, the activists say they were stunned to find out that the security operatives made unauthorized searches at their respective homes.
“We have all been stunned to return home and find eviction notices from our landlords. This raises suspicions that security operatives have pressured our landlords into forcing us out but we have nowhere to go. We are living in fear and we don’t feel safe anywhere,” Alanga said.
Meanwhile, Habib Buwembo, the convener of Lubaga Social Justice Centre, has condemned the alleged mistreatment and intimidation.
“We cannot allow such abuses to go unchecked. The government must respect human rights and ensure that dissenting voices are not silenced through fear and intimidation. If there was a crime committed, my colleagues would have been arraigned in court. We are going to petition the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) to investigate the matter,” he said in a statement.
Despite the allegations, police have denied any wrongdoing in the operation. Speaking to us, Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) spokesperson SCP Patrick Onyango refuted claims of torture, stating that the activists were handled in accordance with the law.
“These individuals were arrested following credible intelligence on their activities. Their rights were respected throughout the process and any claims of torture are false and intended to tarnish the reputation of our security forces,” he said.
It remains to be seen whether the four will be formally charged in court but Onyango said investigations into the matter are still ongoing. In recent months, the state has cracked down on ‘hate speech,’ with several youths, especially TikTokers, ending up charged and remanded in prison on charges of hate speech and spreading malicious information about the First Family.
