The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has accused the Ugandan government of failing to uphold its own promises on addressing human rights violations, warning that the continued silence and inaction point to a growing crisis of accountability and impunity.
Speaking during a press briefing at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, FDC deputy secretary for publicity Mulindwa Walid Lubega voiced frustration over the government’s failure to release findings from a cabinet committee formed in December 2022 to investigate the enforced disappearances of opposition supporters.
“Over two years have passed since the Justice Minister announced the formation of this committee, yet neither it nor the Uganda Human Rights Commission has issued a report,” Walid Lubega said. ‘’This continued silence speaks volumes.’’
He described the unrelenting pattern of abductions, incommunicado detentions, and torture allegedly carried out by state security agencies, warning that these acts are no longer isolated incidents but part of a broader campaign to suppress dissent.
“This is not just about numbers or reports; it is about real people who have disappeared from their families, communities living in fear, and a generation silenced by intimidation,” Walid Lubega stressed.
Lubega cited reports from the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Watch, and the US Department of State documenting illegal detention, torture, and forced disappearances linked to agencies like the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), Special Forces Command (SFC), and the police.
“According to the UHRC, at least 69 cases of disappearances were investigated by June 2022, and 64 detainees were eventually released. But many more remain unaccounted for,” Walid Lubega noted.
He recalled that in August 2022, Parliament’s Committee on Human Rights revealed that seven opposition supporters were still missing, five of them detained as far back as 2020. A separate list presented by the UHRC in December of that year acknowledged 24 individuals who went missing between 2019 and 2022.
“The law is clear: torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment are criminal acts. But despite legal provisions prescribing penalties of up to life imprisonment for aggravated torture, credible reports show these abuses continue with impunity,” Walid Lubega stated.
He referenced a 2022 UN Committee against Torture report that raised alarm over widespread torture in Uganda, echoing concerns shared by lawyers, MPs, and human rights defenders.
Walid Lubega also revisited the 2021 arrest of satirical writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, who was detained and allegedly tortured by officers of the Special Forces Command (SFC) following social media posts critical of top government figures. Kakwenza later fled into exile after the court denied him permission to seek medical treatment abroad.
“Impunity continues to be a major issue in these cases, especially within the police, military, and state agencies,” he revealed. “Officers accused of human rights abuses are often shielded by political and judicial protection instead of facing accountability.”
Walid Lubega concluded by urging the government to uphold the constitution, which guarantees freedom from torture, the right to due process, and respect for human dignity.
“We in the FDC demand respect for human rights, dignity, and the rule of law,” Walid Lubega stressed. ‘’We urge the government to prioritize these fundamental principles and work towards creating a society where citizens can live without fear of persecution or arbitrary detention.’’
