Nicholas Opiyo, the executive director of Chapter Four Uganda, has voiced grave concerns about the state of human rights and electoral integrity ahead of Uganda’s 2026 elections.
Citing a troubling history of arbitrary arrests, human rights violations, voter intimidation, and suppression of opposition politicians, Opiyo predicts that the upcoming election season may mirror or worsen previous cycles marred by violence and impunity.
A Legacy of Electoral Violence and Suppression
Ugandan elections have long been overshadowed by allegations of state violence against opposition figures. High-profile presidential candidates like Dr Kizza Besigye and Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) have repeatedly faced persecution during their campaigns.
Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, has endured incidents of pepper spraying, gunshot wounds, and terrorism charges, often accompanied by arbitrary arrests and detentions.
In November 2024, Uganda’s security forces abducted Besigye and Haji Obeid Lutale from Kenya, charging them with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition before the General Court Martial. Opiyo highlights such incidents as indicative of systemic high-handedness by security forces in their treatment of electoral opposition.
Lack of Accountability for Human Rights Violations
Opiyo underscores the enduring lack of accountability for human rights abuses in Uganda. He points to unresolved incidents such as the 2016 Kasese killings, in which dozens lost their lives, and victims of torture or enforced disappearances from past elections.
“There are far too many people whose rights have been abused and who have not received justice,” he stated.
He stresses the importance of holding perpetrators accountable, asserting that those who violate human rights must face individual consequences for their actions. “We want to reopen the question about accountability,” Opiyo said.
“Why do human rights violations go unpunished, and how can we ensure that this pattern ends?”
Anxiety Over the 2026 Election Climate
The approach of election season stirs anxiety rather than hope for many Ugandans, Opiyo said, highlighting the tense atmosphere created by state actions.
“Every election season brings goosebumps,” he remarked, “because, as day follows night, we see signs of continued high-handedness.”
He cited the suppression of peaceful protests, targeting of civil society and the media, and intimidation of opposition figures as recurring patterns.
“It breaks your heart to see people disappear, tortured, or beaten for peacefully protesting,” Opiyo said, predicting that the 2026 elections could be worse than past ones.
A Call for Electoral Integrity and Peace
Opiyo emphasized the need to reflect on Uganda’s history of electoral violence to create a meaningful path forward.
“We should never allow elections to become episodes of violence,” he stated. He called for robust discussions about ensuring peaceful elections, enhancing public participation, and promoting transparency in both law and electoral processes.
According to Opine, the fundamental principles of democracy—choice, franchise, and electoral integrity—must be safeguarded. Only then, he said, can Uganda hope for elections that respect the will of its people and avoid the violence and suppression that have marred its democratic journey.
Call to Reassess Uganda’s Constitution
Opiyo expressed deep concern over the unfulfilled promises of Uganda’s 1995 constitution. Initially seen as a beacon of hope, the Constitution symbolized a commitment to peace, justice and democratic governance. However, Opiyo contends that the experiences since its promulgation have revealed significant shortcomings and broken promises.
A Constitution Undermined
Opiyo describes the Constitution as a “promissory note” that has failed to deliver on its guarantees. He argues that its original safeguards have been systematically dismantled through suspicious amendments that have weakened its basic structure.
“The guardrails in that Constitution have been removed,” he said, likening the promises made to Ugandans to a “bounced check.”
Despite the Constitution’s explicit protections, such as making torture a non-derogable offense, violations persist.
“The Constitution has not delivered on its promise,” Opiyo stated, highlighting ongoing cases of disappearances, torture and violations of fundamental rights.
Re-examining the Constitution
Opiyo believes it is time for Ugandans to re-evaluate the 1995 Constitution to ensure it can fulfill its intended role. He emphasizes the importance of strengthening key institutions, including the judiciary and executive, to uphold constitutional values.
“The public must rise to defend these values,” he said, stressing that change will not come willingly from those in power. “Power doesn’t give; power is forced to give.”
He cites examples from Kenya, where citizens actively engage with the judicial process by attending court hearings and holding institutions accountable. According to Opiyo, this kind of civic participation is crucial for demanding transparency and ensuring that institutions operate within the framework of the law.
Accountability for Judicial Officers
Opiyo also pointed to the judiciary as an area requiring significant reform. He criticized judicial officers who, through their decisions, undermine justice and human rights.
“Those who remand peaceful protesters without cause, deny bail, or issue dubious rulings will face a moment of reckoning,” he warned.
He called for greater scrutiny of judicial officers, emphasizing that accountability is essential to restore trust in the judiciary.
“Judicial officers who sign their names to dubious judgments must know that their records will eventually come to light. At some point, they will have to answer for their actions.”
A Hostile Environment for NGOs in Uganda
The aftermath of Uganda’s 2021 presidential election marked a significant clampdown on civil society organizations, further exacerbating challenges for NGOs operating in the country.
In August 2021, the National Bureau for Non-Government Organizations (NGO Bureau) suspended the activities of 54 NGOs, citing reasons such as lack of valid permits, failure to file annual returns and audited accounts, and operating without registration.
According to Opiyo, the actions taken during and after the election targeted the broader NGO sector with chilling effect. Organizations were shut down, bank accounts frozen, and leaders arrested. Major funders, such as the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), were forced to halt operations, and individuals associated with supporting NGOs were deported.
Impact of the DGF Exit
Before its closure in 2022, DGF had been a critical source of funding for both state and non-state actors, supporting 80 implementing partners across Uganda. Over its four-year program, DGF injected $350 million (Shs 1.3 trillion) into Uganda’s economy. Its withdrawal negatively impacted countless individuals, communities, and institutions reliant on its funding.
Opiyo underscored that the decision to cut off this financial lifeline stifled progress at local and national levels, affecting grass-roots initiatives and governance projects. The abrupt exit of DGF created a vacuum in funding and support, leaving numerous organizations struggling to sustain their operations.
The Role of the NGO Bureau
While the NGO Bureau is mandated to facilitate the growth of the sector, Opiyo contends that its actions have had the opposite effect. He criticized the bureau’s arbitrary and high-handed administrative measures, including targeting companies limited by guarantee under the guise of registration requirements.
“The hostile atmosphere is leading to the bleeding of the NGO sector,” Opiyo remarked.
He also pointed to the growing pressure NGOs face from resident district commissioners (RDCs), whose actions contribute to the decline in active organizations.
“The decline in the number of NGOs is directly related to a very hostile atmosphere and administrative actions taken by the regulator,” he said.
Changing the Narrative
Opiyo emphasized the need to shift how civil society is perceived in Uganda. He argued that NGOs are too often framed as security threats rather than recognized as development partners contributing to the country’s progress.
“Civil society offers jobs, mobilizes resources globally, creates employment, and drives innovation and new policies. They hold governments accountable, which strengthens democracy,” he said.
He called for a rethinking of civil society’s role, urging the government to see NGOs as collaborators rather than adversaries.
Addressing concerns about foreign funding, Opiyo dismissed the notion that receiving international financial support makes NGOs agents of foreign influence.
“If that were the case, the government of Uganda would be the biggest foreign agent in the country. Global financing is a reality, and civil society should not be penalized for accessing it,” he said.
In recounting his harrowing experience in 2022, Opiyo detailed the challenges he faced after his organization was shut down and he was arrested.
The ordeal began in September 2022, when his home was broken into, and personal belongings, including a laptop, mobile phones, and electronics, were stolen. A few months later, in December 2022, Opiyo was arrested while dining at a restaurant in Kamwokya.
Fighting Back Through Legal Means
Despite the closure of Chapter Four Uganda and the freezing of its bank accounts, Opiyo and his team mounted a determined legal challenge against the NGO Bureau and the attorney general.
“We fought. Chapter Four Uganda was closed, our bank accounts were frozen, and I was arrested. But we mounted a rigorous legal challenge and won the case,” he explained.
Their victory in court led to the reopening of the organization and the unfreezing of its accounts.
Transparency as a Strategy
Opiyo emphasized the role of transparency in countering the accusations levelled against Chapter Four Uganda.
“We acted with complete transparency because lack of transparency sometimes creates suspicion,” he said.
The organization openly shared its financial records with authorities, detailing how funds were received and spent.
“When they looked into our books of ac- counts, it became clear that we were a law- abiding institution. We were not involved in anything subversive,” Opiyo stated, affirming the organization’s adherence to legal and ethical standards.
A Combined Approach
The reopening of Chapter Four Uganda was not achieved solely through legal action. Opiyo credited their success to a dual approach: a rigorous fight in court combined with proactive accountability and transparency.
This strategy demonstrated the organization’s compliance with regulations and its commitment to lawful operations.
Chapter Four Uganda has made very clear these points indeed for the Kingdom state of Buganda not to try at all to continue to participate in such African dodgy and continous national elections that are violent and abusive to human rights left, right and center!
It is unfortunate that individuals who are involved in such atrocities continue to be allowed to participate in these national democratic elections instead of being banned. In order for the Ganda tribes people to avoid civil bloodshed which in the history of this new country of Uganda is endemic, the citizens should stay at home when the time of election approaches. They should relax at home and avoid UPDF violence.
Cook their food and eat and go to sleep until the next day when they can go back to earning their living! The state of Buganda has its ancient political system of governance to take it forward even before the colonialists and imperialists arrived on the state territory of Buganda!