Mr. President, on the 15th of January 2026, you contested in the Ugandan presidential elections.
On the 17th of January 2026, you were declared the winner of that election by the Electoral Commission. Since that time, videos and recordings have continued to surface of you referring to those you contested against—and their supporters—as terrorists.
There have also been continued reports of army and police crackdowns on civilians, particularly in the central region that voted more heavily for opposition candidates than for you and the NRM party.
One of the candidates you contested against, Robert Kyagulanyi, has had his home under siege since the day of the elections and has been forced into hiding for his safety to date.
On the 23rd of January 2026, his home was again attacked at night by masked armed individuals—some in army and police uniforms and others in civilian clothing. Accounts shared on social media by Barbie Kyagulanyi describe unauthorized entry, threats and assaults on her and their household staff, destruction of property, and theft of phones, electronic devices, CCTV equipment etc.
Another opposition Member of Parliament, Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi, a Vice President of the National Unity Platform (NUP) for the Central Region, has been charged with terrorism for allegedly attacking a police station.
These charges contradict earlier reports indicating that his home was attacked on election night by armed men in uniform, resulting in the deaths of 10 people. Two other Vice Presidents of NUP—Dr. Lina Zedriga (Northern Uganda) and Jolly Tukamushaba (Western Uganda)—have also been reported on social media as having been abducted. Their whereabouts remain unknown to date.
Another key opposition leader, Dr. Kizza Besigye, is in unlawful detention. He has been reported to be in poor health and denied access to his doctors. A Catholic priest, Father Ssekabira, is in prison, among other reasons, for associating with Robert Kyagulanyi, an opposition leader.
Civil society organizations have been de-licensed. Activists such as Sarah Birete are in prison on questionable charges. Many other Ugandan citizens are missing or in unlawful detention for their political views or for supporting opposition candidates.
Mr. President, you are the President of Uganda and the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. Your son is the Chief of the Defence Forces. Can all of the above be happening without your knowledge or consent? If you did not authorize or consent to the above actions, what steps have you taken to restore discipline and legality within the army and police, especially when they operate under your direct authority?
You campaigned on the theme of protecting the gains. As a citizen, I ask: what does that mean in practice? Does it mean placing opponents under siege, arresting them, labeling them terrorists, and imprisoning them for indefinite periods?
The Constitution of Uganda—enacted under your leadership—provides for multiparty democracy and allows candidates dissatisfied with election results to seek redress before the Supreme Court. When opposition leaders are hunted, their homes surrounded by armed men, and their parties terrorized, are those constitutional guarantees still meaningful?
This pattern did not begin in 2026. It has been ongoing against different political actors, with the latest targets being NUP leaders and supporters. As a country Uganda, are we moving forward, or are we moving backwards?
If you genuinely won this election, why prevent opposition leaders from using lawful and constitutional means to challenge the election results if they wish to? What peace is being protected when some sections of the population do not live in peace? Do we have one Uganda, or two?
Read the continuation of the open letter here:
Source: Justice Esther Kisakye
Ugandan former Supreme Court Judge between 2009 to 2023
