Introduction
On 15th September 2025, the Paris Civil Court issued a landmark ruling in the Total Uganda case, ordering Total to disclose key documents considered essential to the plaintiffs’ evidence. The decision marks a major advance for affected communities and supporting organisations pursuing justice for alleged human rights violations linked to the Tilenga and East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) projects in Uganda. Filed in June 2023 under France’s Duty of Vigilance Law by 26 affected individuals, activist Maxwell Atuhura, and five Ugandan and French organisations, the case challenges Total’s failure to prevent environmental and human rights abuses. The ruling rejected Total’s argument that the requested documents belonged to its subsidiaries, affirming that the parent company bears the primary duty of vigilance. The court gave Total one month to provide the missing documents or face a fine of €1,000 per day of delay. The disclosure will enable the continuation of written submissions ahead of a full hearing on the merits, expected in 2026.
Association
On 9th August, a Ugandan court denied bail to opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who has spent nearly nine months in detention on treason charges. Judge Emmanuel Baguma ruled that the 180-day threshold for mandatory bail began only on 21st February, when Besigye was remanded to a civilian court, leaving him 12 days short of eligibility. His lawyers argued that his detention without trial violates constitutional guarantees, but the court dismissed their submissions. While the government maintains that Besigye faces legitimate charges, rights groups and opposition claim that the continued use of treason prosecutions and procedural delays underscores how legal frameworks are being manipulated to weaken opposition voices and erode civic space in Uganda.
On 28th August 2025, police in Mityana District used tear gas to disperse supporters of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) who were marching from Mityana Town to Busimbi to inaugurate the party’s first sub-regional offices in Buganda. The procession, led by senior party officials including Dr Lulume Bayigga, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, and Waswa Birigwa, was halted by the District Police Commander, who claimed the gathering lacked official clearance. Despite the peaceful nature of the march, police fired tear gas to break up the crowd, injuring several supporters. Following the standoff, authorities allowed a small delegation to proceed with the opening ceremony. Earlier that day, the party had held the Buganda Federal State Convention, during which new leaders were elected. Dr Bayigga criticised the police for obstructing lawful political activity and demanded the release of detained PFF leaders. The incident reflects a broader pattern of state interference in opposition mobilisation, highlighting persistent restrictions on freedom of assembly and association in Uganda’s pre-election environment and raising concerns about the fairness of the political landscape ahead of the polls.
On 8th September 2025, police officers detained Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, the Deputy Spokesperson of NUP, outside a Kampala magistrate’s court. Mufumbiro had attended a bail hearing for several detained NUP members, including opposition activist Eddie Mutwe, when he was reportedly “violently grabbed and pushed” into a vehicle by plain-clothed officers. Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke later confirmed the arrest but declined to provide reasons or details on when Mufumbiro would be brought before court. The incident adds to growing concerns over the arbitrary detention of opposition figures and the use of security agencies to intimidate political opponents ahead of the 2026 elections. NUP leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, condemned the arrest as further evidence of state repression and political interference in judicial processes. This episode follows earlier controversy involving Mutwe’s abduction, which Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba publicly acknowledged on social media before Mutwe was later charged with robbery, deepening perceptions of impunity and the politicisation of Uganda’s law enforcement institutions.
On 15th September 2025, Uganda police rejected accusations from NUP that they are abducting party members, insisting that all recent arrests are lawful and based on ongoing investigations. Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke stated that the claims of abductions are “false and politically motivated”, arguing that arrests are a legitimate part of police operations since the force’s establishment. Rusoke explained that several NUP members had been detained for allegedly engaging in unlawful military drilling and parades, offences under the Penal Code. He confirmed that ten suspects, including NUP Deputy Spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, had been arrested, with nine already appearing in court and another expected to be charged shortly.
On 3rd October 2025, two Kenyan human rights activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, were reportedly abducted by armed men in Uganda while attending an opposition campaign event for NUP leader Bobi Wine. Witnesses said the activists were forced into a vehicle by four armed men and driven to an unknown location. Bobi Wine condemned the incident, describing it as a politically motivated abduction carried out “mafia-style” and accused the Ugandan government of targeting the pair for associating with him. Ugandan police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke denied that the two were in police custody, while army spokesperson Felix Kulayigye dismissed the claims as unverified allegations involving unidentified operatives. The Kenyan government confirmed it was working to secure their release, with Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen reaffirming Kenya’s duty to protect its citizens abroad. In a joint open letter to the Ugandan High Commission, the Law Society of Kenya, Amnesty International Kenya, and Vocal Africa condemned the incident as part of a broader pattern of abductions and enforced disappearances targeting activists and opposition supporters in the region.
Peaceful Assembly
On 10th September 2025, a protest in Mpigi district’s Muduuma Sub-County escalated into violence when supporters of NUP clashed over internal party disagreements. The demonstrators, mainly NUP youth, were protesting against Mawokota North MP Hillary Kiyaga (Dr Hilderman), accusing him and other senior party officials, including Butambala Woman MP Aisha Kabanda, of manipulating the party’s flag bearer selection process ahead of the local council elections. The protesters claimed the decision to endorse another candidate unfairly excluded their preferred aspirant, Ivan Kasumba. When they marched to Kiyaga’s residence, believing he was inside, they were confronted by his supporters, sparking violent confrontations between the two groups.
On 1st October 2025, residents of Kalagi-Kakoola town, Mukono District, staged a violent protest over a month-long power blackout, accusing the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) of removing a transformer and failing to replace it. The protesters blocked the Mukono–Kayunga road with electricity poles and logs, paralysing transport and vowing not to disperse until power was restored. The situation escalated when residents seized a UEDCL vehicle, demanding the transformer’s immediate return. Police and army officers attempted to disperse the crowd using tear gas after negotiations failed. During the clashes, a woman sustained critical injuries from a tear gas canister and was taken to Naggalama Hospital. The standoff lasted over five hours before area MP Kiwanuka Abdallah Mulimamayuni intervened, pledging that the transformer would be reinstated. Such violent demonstrations undermine legitimate grievances, and erode opportunities for constructive dialogue with authorities.
Expression
In July 2025, investigative journalist Canary Mugume of NBS Television was violently attacked by unidentified assailants in Kampala. The attackers pulled him from his car late at night, assaulted him, and took only his mobile phone, leaving other valuables untouched, suggesting the incident was targeted rather than a robbery. Mugume described the attack as the second of its kind, both incidents appearing to focus on seizing his phones. Notably, two months earlier, he had publicly shared a warning from Apple alerting him to a possible hacking attempt using mercenary spyware allegedly deployed by state actors against journalists and activists.
On 19th August 2025, journalist Christopher Semalemu Ssemakula of Bbeg Media was brutally assaulted by a mob while covering a land dispute in Nakulabye, Lubaga Division, Kampala. Ssemakula had gone to the scene after receiving information about a family meeting concerning the contested property. When court bailiffs attempted to enter the premises, some family members accused him of land grabbing and attacked him, seizing his phone, camera, and other equipment. Police later intervened, taking him to Old Kampala Police Station and then to Mulago National Referral Hospital, where he was treated for serious injuries, including a dislocated hand and head trauma. He was discharged on 21st August, but he continues to suffer from severe pain and swelling.
During the protest in Mpigi district’s Muduuma Sub-County, NTV journalist Brian Adam Kesiime was attacked by an unidentified protester while covering the demonstration. He sustained injuries and was rushed to a nearby health facility for treatment. The assault highlights the growing risks faced by journalists covering politically charged events in Uganda, where hostility from both state and non-state actors continues to threaten press freedom and the right to information.