At least five senior opposition figures have in the recent months fled the country for exile, citing threats to their lives.
First it was Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the President of the National Unity Platform (NUP), the biggest opposition political party. Kyagulanyi fled the country for the USA in late January following the Presidential election, in which Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was declared the winner with 71.65 per cent of the vote.
Second was Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, the People’s Front for Freedom Secretary General. Ssemujju left the country on June 17, after he was threatened to be taken to the ‘basement’ by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The basement is another name that has been given to safe houses where political opponents are incarcerated and reportedly tortured. Ssemujju refuses to disclose where he is, currently.
Then came Eron Kiiza, one of the lawyers of Dr Kizza Besigye. Kiiza was released recently following his imprisonment on the orders of the General Court Martial, for contempt of court.
Winnie Kiiza, the former leader of the opposition in Parliament and former Woman MP for Kasese district has also fled the country, The Observer has learnt. According to reliable sources, in recent days, soldiers had been seen lurking around Kiiza’s home, prompting concerns over her safety.
Kiiza was very vocal in calling out the actions of the security after the kidnapping of women rights activist Maria Matembe. Also, Dr Lina Zedriga Waru, the deputy president of NUP has, according to reliable sources, left Uganda.
Zedriga has reportedly been under constant surveillance since her release from prison, following her arrest during the 2026 general elections. After the January election, there has been an uptick in the crackdown on opposition figures.
Other than those in exile, four prominent figures are also in prison for crimes ranging from terrorism to treason and misprision of treason. Those in prison include, Dr Kizza Besigye, who was kidnapped in November 2024 from Kenya.
He has been charged, alongside his political aide Haji Obeid Lutale, with treason and misprision of treason. Former Lord Mayor of Kampala Erias Lukwago was also arrested in June and charged with misprision of treason. Lukwago was one of the leading lawyers for Besigye and Lutale.
The other opposition figure in prison is Muhammad Muwanga-Kivumbi, the deputy president of NUP and former Butambala county MP. Kivumbi is being charged with terrorism following violence that erupted in Butambala after the disputed parliamentary elections that saw him lose his seat to Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi.
Seven people were shot dead at Kivumbi’s home. He was released last month on bail, only to be rearrested the following day on charges of inciting violence and holding an unlawful assembly. Ssemujju told the media at the weekend, he had decided to stay away from Uganda until he is guaranteed of his safety.
“I left Uganda to go and perform umrah in Saudi Arabia, but after the umrah, I had to make a decision whether to return or not. You remember by the time I left, Muhoozi had promised to take me to a basement to torture me. Maybe after that, they would charge me in court and then send me to Luzira or Kitalya. The question then was, am I useful while in prison or the basement, or when I’m free even if I’m not in the country?” Ssemujju said.
“But what I can assure you, I will come back to Uganda, because it’s the only home I have. I also want to make a commitment to continue making a contribution to the betterment of the situation at home.”
The Observer was unable to reach Dr Zedriga, but a close friend of hers confirmed her decision to stay away, for now.
“It has not been easy for her for the last few months. She has been under constant surveillance and she has taken a decision to stay away from Uganda until such a time when she feels safe,” the friend, who asked not to be named for her own safety, said.
For his part, Eron Kiiza, who last week the state sought to prosecute for breaking the sub judice rule after he allegedly commented about the merits of the ongoing case against Dr Besigye, said he had to prioritize his safety.
“The state of affairs is dire, uncertain and dangerous. Rule of law has been replaced by capricious militarism,” Kiiza said.
However, Kiiza said that not everybody who engaged in challenging President Museveni’s government should flee.
“If you can work quietly, or count on your luck, stay. If you can sing power praises, you may be safe. If you are outspokenly critical and can stomach threats, fear, detention, abduction and business or professional sabotage, you can stay. If you want to be loudly critical and still have liberty, flee before it is too late. We are off the rails and everyone is figuring out the answer. History may be a guide,” Kiiza said.
“Some people are more useful to the struggle abroad than at home. Most people will contribute better in exile than in the basement or prison. How I wish Lukwago and Sam Mugumya were in exile rather than in arbitrary, torturous and life-threatening detention. People in exile can contribute ideas, money and contacts, which are the lifeblood of any serious struggle.”
David Lewis Rubongoya, the Secretary General of NUP said history is repeating itself in Uganda.
“It is very unfortunate that people are fleeing into exile. We used to read about these things during the regime of Idi Amin, now we are witnessing them first-hand. What is most disappointing is that, it is our commanders who are being forced out. What I know for a fact is that wherever they are, they are still engaged in the struggle. We must not lose hope for us who are still here, we must keep pushing so that our country is liberated,” Rubongoya said.
President Museveni has not talked about these increasing cases of opposition figures fleeing to exile. Efforts to speak to Justine Kasule Lumumba, the minister of ICT and National Guidance were futile as she neither picked nor returned calls and messages to her known numbers.
What is left unsaid is that Nicolas Opio had left the country before all the people here mentioned did . Ssemakadde and Kakwenza may not be characterized as politicians , but they also felt forced to go into exile along side Dr.Stella Nyanzi .
Alext Mukulu gave us one of his many creative analogies.
He said : Uganda was an anthill that was built by very hard working ants . In that anthill there was a queen who was the one and only mother of all “tribes” in the anthill i.e , the workers , the defenders , the white ants who would later fly out to spread the ant-kingdom by starting new anthills.
Over the years , tragedy befell when reptiles and all types of ant-predators invaded the hill .. eating up some of the builders and forcing the rest to vacate the hill .
Alex : go to Entebbe Airport and see for yourself ; ants are running away from the hill that their ancestors built for them in big numbers ; at the same time , snakes and rats are multiplying and capturing more space in every corner of a heap that used to be an ANTHILL
Ekiswa kifuluka lwa nnabe ….
My dearest Betty, great observation. Ssemakadde, S. Nyanzi, Kakwenza, and many lesser-known citizens have been forced to flee their country to seek refuge abroad. But the reality goes far beyond politicians; innocent Ugandans are fleeing the country daily because of Museveni’s oppressive regime. Yes, prominent figures have left, and I don’t blame them. However, how can we ever win this struggle when opposition leaders like Lubongoya maintain business as usual—collecting taxpayers’ money while doing nothing except legitimizing our oppressors? It is shameful that leaders like Kyagulanyi direct their subordinates to keep their hands in the taxpayer cookie jar, sit at the regime’s governing table, and pretend everything is normal. We must all say enough is enough: Museveni, his family, relatives, and cronies must go now. If we aren’t on the same page, the lives lost and all hope for change will be in vain. It is deeply painful to watch elite politicians [Ssenyonyi and others] enjoy state funds while our country sinks into deeper ruin.
Mukulu , the last time you accused particular members of the “opposition” of enjoying the comfort of earning easy money , I asked you to make me understand the basis of your inference , especially against the ones whose names you always mention. You , in principal pleaded the Fifth . Hands up here !
Once again , I feel intrigued by some of the assertations you make.
For example , I have a hard time believing that “Kyagulanyi directs his subordinates to keep their hands in the taxpayer cookie jar … and pretend that everything is normal ”
That statement alone does not rhyme with the headline above, does it ? Its not NORMAL when people have to run into exile , constantly living on edge , financially taking care of families of jailed or murdered ” subordinates and associates . My opinion and that of many Ugandans is that Mr.Rubongoya must be the man who carries more responsibilities than most people. One wonders if he even has time for his own family . Why ? because the circumstances make it a necessity for him to do things that would otherwise fall out of his job description .
To say that “Rubongoya maintains business as usual .. collecting taxpayers money while doing nothing” tantamount to a malicious mockery of rationality .
I do not think that this is your intention
Betty, I will never plead the Fifth. I stand firmly by my words: elections will never bring change to Uganda. Even Museveni has made it clear that a mere piece of paper will never dislodge him from power—we all know this. You have never refuted the fact that Kyagulanyi’s true objective was merely to replace Besigye and the FDC, not the regime. He openly blamed Besigye for losing four times, claimed democracy did exist, and promised to prove it works. Yet here we are.
By continuously participating in these bogus and violent elections, the opposition is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results. This repetitive cycle only distances us further from the real struggle for liberation, while fracturing our unity across ineffective political parties and individuals like Kyagulanyi and Besigye. This is exactly what renders figures like Rubongoya and Ssenyonyi completely ineffective. While they may face personal pressures, their political strategy ultimately achieves nothing but keeping them at the regime’s table—collecting taxpayers’ money for maintaining a broken status quo. If the strategy doesn’t change, their presence in parliament is useless to the struggle.
I am sorry to have to say that you miss my point.
Let me try again : I requested you to make me understand why and how you arrived at all the conclusions you make. Many of your inference seem not be backed by facts .
I also requested you to suggest a way forward , now that you are sure that most members of the opposition ( except DP , UPC and other parties that participated in “those elections. you do not mention those ) are having the best of times , including the ones in jails .You , my friend offered no response . In my field , silence is an answer.
Your reponse today is: “Museveni has made it clear that…”
You may be correct , but that I was not looking for what Museveni has made clear , or that everyone in NUP is comfortable with the status quo ..You are answering a question I never asked , a real Judge would yell : answer the question asked ! ( a bit of legal humor)
At this point , I am not sure you need more facts ; but I will offer two for the road anyway : 1) from prison , Dr. Besigye sent his own wife and endorsed Mw. Kyagulanyi with a contribution . 2 ) when he run for the presidency 4 times , Dr. Besigye promised many things such as : he was the cotter pin remover, he then asked my people in Masaka to line up along the road to wave to Museveni as he is sent home to Rwakitura by Ssenyondo ; he started the Tubalemese walk to work , red card operations , none of which changed much . But , you will not find many people who are really interested in change excessively pinning Dr.Besigye over that; on the other hand , you are more likely to find more people calling him a courageous fighter who was robbed of his victory for reasons that most of us know . With us , we belong to that thinking about Dr. Besigye and all the others whose lives have been negatively affected because they dared to fight an unbeatable armed foe . Here , I include you and all today`s and tomorrow`s “inmates ” inside of a prison called Uganda .I rest my case and promise to not engage you on this particular issue .You and I have more important things we agree on.
Lets move
Betty, my dearest, the issue here is recycling bogus and violent elections one after another and ending not only in the same position, but in a worse one where Uganda is currently in a far worse position than during Idi Amin’s era. Two wrongs do not make a right, meaning that simply because Dr. Kizza Besigye made the mistake of running against Museveni four times does not give Bobí Wine Kyagulanyi the justification to repeat that exact same mistake. I am already on record for stating that Besigye made that mistake, and copying a failed strategy will never yield a different result.Furthermore, the buck stops with Museveni now because he is the president, which is why we hold him accountable. Likewise, because Kyagulanyi is currently the leading opposition figure and the National Unity Platform (NUP) is the largest opposition party in parliament, the buck stops with Kyagulanyi and NUP—not the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) or any other party. Therefore, I will not relent in pointing out the failures of Kyagulanyi and NUP that have driven our struggle for change into a deep quagmire and left us in our worst position yet.
Why do these so-called politicians always participate in sham elections, knowing very well that they have no chance against the military junta. Instead of “going to the bush”, just like Museveni himself did, they always run into exile and they are soon forgotten.
But Lysol, do not forget; Gen Tibuhaburwa and others FIRST RAN into exile!
Dear friend , I notice a pattern here . I see people who are into something that resembles a hit-and-run activity.
Too many times they offer the view or imply that it is the participation into elections that triggers Mr. Museveni and his son into abusing some people`s human rights . Meaning , probably , that no one would be persecuted , jailed or forced into exile if the opposition did not make the mistake of participating into ” those elections” .
The record is that millions of Ugandans disagree .
When we ask for a clarification or , at least , offer an alternative it goes blank ; unit the next article.
I have also noticed that you ( Lakwena) are not among those who follow that line . You prefer cutting right through the real fat. I am there too.
Lysol, it is greed, pure and simple, but it is also about survival and fragmentation. Kyagulanyi made matters worse when he entered the political scene and ran against Museveni. In reality, his objective wasn’t to dislodge Museveni or the NRM, but to replace Besigye and the FDC as the premier opposition force—and he achieved that, bringing us right back to business as usual.
Now we have figures like Hajji Bulevu claiming Ssemujju Nganda is a ‘mole’ just because he didn’t blindly fall in line behind Kyagulanyi. How can anyone expect Ssemujju or the FDC to surrender their history of struggle to a newcomer? This infighting proves that violent, bogus elections are carefully designed to divide us, and they are precisely why Museveni has ruled for over 40 years. Kyagulanyi made matters worse by leading the population into endless election cycles like ‘Kalonda, Kakuume, Kabbanje’—with the full, clear knowledge that elections will never bring change to Uganda. Blind loyalists label any competing voice from the FDC a ‘mole’ instead of uniting for fundamental change. By alienating capable leaders like Ssemujju instead of welcoming them, Kyagulanyi and his supporters actively sabotage the very struggle they claim to lead. Fellow Ugandans, ani atuloga? (Who has cast a spell on us?)
FACTS :
1- Hon. Ssmujju Nganda and others left FDC
2-Hon Ssemujju and other who broke way from FDC fully paricipated in ” those elections.
3- Until he lost his seat , Hon.Ssmujju Nganda was the appointed Show Minister of Finance -appointed by NUP leadership.
4- Hon. Ssemujju Nganda had admitted that Mr. Kyagulanyi was right when he made the difficult decision to leave Uganda .
I suggest that we should try to base our statements on facts or else we will all end up doing what the Supreme Leader does against imagined “enemies”
Correction :
-Hon Ssemujju Nganda and others who broke away from FDC fully participated in “those elections”
-Hon. SsemujjuNganda wasthe appointed shadow Minister of Finance –
I apologize on behalf of the printing system for misspelling Hon. Ssemujju`s name
Betty, please pay closer attention to the details and the timeline. I explicitly stated that Kyagulanyi’s initial objective was to replace Besigye and the FDC, and I later qualified this by noting that blind loyalists label any competing voice from the FDC a ‘mole’ instead of uniting for change. It is an historical fact that Besigye and Ssemujju made their political mark under the FDC, which was the leading opposition force until Kyagulanyi entered the scene with the specific intent to dislodge them, rather than Museveni. Bringing up the new People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) is irrelevant to this historical context. Kyagulanyi specifically targeted Besigye and the FDC to capture the opposition mantle, and that is the root of the division we see today.
Who in his/her right state of mind can deny that all dictators suckle from their same bloody mother’s breast: Which is why and how, when they are weaned off from their bloody mother’s breast; they are blood thirsty and go for the fresh blood of fellow countrymen. women and children.
During Amin’s Era of Terror and murder, the First Bloody Basement was referred to as: “Go-down”. One was at Nakasero, Annex to what was known as the Presidential Lodge (now State House); where Amin would walk in whenever he felt blood thirsty.
An that was the bloody place where he shot Archbishop Luwum through the mouth, as well as Erinayo Oryema and Oboth and he stage manged a motor vehicle accident, and blamed his victim of causing the accident, while attempting to overpower the driver!
Another Go-down, was at the notorious Naguru Safety Unit, where the victims of forced disappearances’ heads, were bludgeoned with a 6-pound hammer!
In other words, our 86-years-old PROBLEM OF AFRICA, his son Gen Mk and other useful idiots and goons hands, are now abominably caked black with Ugandans blood (stain).
Hence, anyone shakes those hands at own risk!
The situation has never changed, There was times of Col.mande, Gen. Tinyefuza, Etal .Every young democracy passes through these challenges till it gains a firm foundation.
A few days ago , I wrote something about Alex Mukulu`s ANTHILL
Following that, someone sent me Alex Mukulu`s song : Abenamutamba . We have played the song all these days unaware that Alex Mukulu was sick and dying .
His play : 30 Years Of Bananas was a prophecy .
Alex Mukulu is yet another useful working ant that has vacated the anthill . If any Ugandan deserved a state funeral , it would be muzzukulu was Kabangala , Alex Mukulu.May he REST in everlasting PEACE
In other words Betty, the Alex Mukulu of this country are the pacific, non-violent unsung Heroes.
May his soul be in peace, far away from our troubled, plundered and brutalized country.