Press Statement on the Escalating Restrictions on Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom, and Internet Access in Uganda Ahead of the 2026 General Elections
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) expresses deep concern regarding reports of violations of freedom of expression and access to information, including acts of harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest, and abuse directed at journalists and media practitioners in the Republic of Uganda, in the lead-up to the forthcoming general elections scheduled for 15 January 2026.
The reports received by the Commission indicate that in 2025, journalists had been subjected to, or are at heightened risk of being subjected to, various types of physical assaults, intimidation and harassment, both offline and online. Specifically, during the Kawempe north by-election in March 2025, it was reported that at least thirty-two (32) journalists, including three (3) women, were either assaulted by security operatives or their equipment confiscated or damaged.
Furthermore, in July 2025, one of the well-known investigative journalists working with NBS television, Canary Mugume, was violently attacked in Kampala by unknown assailants who pulled him from his vehicle late at night, punched his face and eyes and took his mobile phone. In October 2025, one of the independent media offices, The Observer, was ransacked, with twelve (12) computers stolen. In October 2025, journalists working with NTV Uganda and The Daily Monitor reportedly had their accreditations to cover parliamentary and presidential proceedings revoked, allegedly in retaliation for critical reporting.
The Commission further notes with concern statements attributed to authorities following assurances by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) that the internet would be shut down. In particular, the Commission notes with concern reported threats against individuals using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access Facebook, which has remained blocked in Uganda since the 2021 elections as well as remarks by the Acting Secretary-Commissioner of the Electoral Commission suggesting that an internet shutdown may be necessary due to the alleged “uncontrollable nature” of election-related misinformation. These threats raise serious human rights concerns.
The Commission recalls that internet shutdowns and undue restrictions on digital communications constitute violations of Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter), which guarantees the right to receive information and the right to express and disseminate opinions. The Commission further recalls that such measures are also contrary to the provisions of the Commission’s Guidelines on Freedom of Association and Assembly, which provide as follows:
68. Everyone has the right to assemble freely with others.
69. The right to freedom of assembly applies to meetings on private as well as public property.
70. The right to freedom of assembly extends to peaceful assembly. An assembly should be deemed peaceful if its organizers have expressed peaceful intentions, and if the conduct of the assembly participants is generally peaceful.
77. States shall fully respect in law and practice the right to freedom of expression through assembly. States shall not discriminate among assemblies based on the expression involved.
79. Speech addressing matters of public concern, public interest or political or policy affairs, including criticism of the State or State officials, including as exercised in the context of an assembly, is given maximum protection under the right to freedom of expression.
In addition, the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa (the Declaration) provides in Principle 10 on the Guarantee of freedom of expression that: “Freedom of expression, including the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art or through any other form of communication or medium, including across frontiers, is a fundamental and inalienable human right and an indispensable component of democracy.’’
Further Principle 19(1) of the Declaration on the Protection of journalists and other media practitioners provides that: “The right to express oneself through the media by practising journalism shall not be subject to undue legal restrictions.” Principle 20(2) of the Declaration on the Safety of journalists and other media practitioners provides that: “States shall take measures to prevent attacks on journalists and other media practitioners, including murder, extra-judicial killing, torture and other forms of ill-treatment, arbitrary arrest and detention, enforced disappearance, kidnapping, intimidation, threats and unlawful surveillance undertaken by State and non-State actors.”
Furthermore, in view of the right guaranteed under Article 13 of the African Charter, vis-à-vis on the right of every citizen to participate freely in the government of his or her country, either directly or through freely chosen representatives in accordance with the provisions of the law, the Commission calls on the Government of Uganda to take positive action to ensure that there is a free, fair and transparent election in Uganda.
Lastly, the Commission urges the Government of Uganda to ratify the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, signed on 27 January 2013, which emphasizes the importance of consolidating on the continent, the political culture of change of power, based on the holding of regular, free, fair and transparent elections conducted by competent, independent and impartial national electoral bodies.
- Hon. Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa
- Hon. Commissioner Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga, Country Rapporteur for the Republic of Uganda
- Hon. Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africa.
