TASSC Statement on the Violent and Ambiguous Election Period in Uganda

U.S EMBASSY KAMPALA, Jan. 13, 2021/ug.usembassy.gov/-- U.S election observers withdrew from their posts on January 13th, a day before Ugandan citizens went to the polls, due to a lack of credibility surrounding the election. U.S. Ambassador Natalie E. Brown put forth a statement concerning this decision declaring that “it is not possible for the United States to meaningfully observe the conduct of Uganda’s elections at polling sites across the country,” since Uganda denied 75% of the election observers accreditations. This decision by the Ugandan Election Commission necessitated that the U.S cancel its planned diplomatic observation of the election and their support in creating a peaceful, inclusive, and free election. 

This denial of election observers is deeply troubling, and increases the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition’s (TASSC) concern of the lack of transparency and credibility surrounding the election. In addition to the cloud of uncertainty that these decisions created, the continued violence in Uganda becomes an even greater concern as the election observers withdrew and the government demands an internet shutdown of social media. Both of these actions decrease transparency as they silence voices in the media and cover the human rights abuses happening during this election period. Therefore, TASSC plans to continue to collect evidence of the human right abuses happening throughout the internet shutdown, during the election and in the aftermath, while also appealing to the internet providers in Uganda to keep their lines of communication open.

Unfortunately, the repression and violent actions directed at political opposition does not end there, as TASSC also condemns the act of the military in surrounding a presidential candidate’s house this morning. While we can only conjecture the intentions of the military in the ambush of Bobi Wine’s home, Bobi Wine took to Facebook to state that “we are under siege. Soldiers in UPDF uniform and others in plain clothes but carrying guns have jumped over our fence and taken control of my home”. This act of intimidation will not go unnoticed and we implore the military to release their control of the home and leave Bobi Wine in peace. 

These human rights abuses and intimidation tactics precipitating and following the election aren’t new, but rather part of a cycle of violence seen in past Ugandan elections. In 2011, Human Rights Watch  reported that the presidential and parliamentary elections were accompanied with violence, reminiscent of the current election period. The report stated that “security and quasi-military organizations continue to illegally detain and torture suspects” and noted that “Ugandan officials have repeatedly failed to hold state actors involved in election-related violence accountable,” events that have continued in 2021. The cyclical nature of these human rights violations that occur during election periods demonstrate the intense need for election reform. Election observers usually provide insight after monitoring polling sites to improve future elections, further demonstrating the disappointing decision of the Election Commission to deny their presence. 

Thus, TASSC agrees with the UN statement that calls for the authorities in Uganda to end the repression, violence, and intimidation of “human rights defenders, journalists, civil society leaders, peaceful protesters, political parties and those who express dissent.” We also appeal to the international community to condemn the actions of the government and the military in intimidating political opposition, as well as push for future election reform in Uganda.