US Senators, Martha Karua condemn crackdown on Uganda's opposition leaders

WASHINGTON, D.C., US

US Senators Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat-New Hampshire), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Cory Booker (Democrat-New Jersey), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy on Friday issued a sharp statement criticising Uganda's general election held on January 15, 2026.

The senators described the poll as "another blow to the pursuit of democracy" in the East African nation, where incumbent President Yoweri Museveni of National Resistance Movement (NRM) was declared the winner with approximately 71.65% of the vote, securing a seventh term in office.

Election results were announced on January 17, 2026, by Uganda Electoral Commission chairman Justice Simon Byabakama.

Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine of National Unity Platform (NUP) contested the results, alleging widespread irregularities.

On Friday, Bobi Wine who has since gone into hiding, told international media that circumstances forced him to escape because Chief of Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) General Muhoozi Kainerugaba had threatened to harm him.

Shaheen and Booker highlighted that the election mirrored previous Ugandan contests, with the playing field heavily skewed and outcomes effectively determined before voting began.

“Unfortunately, these elections mirrored previous electoral contests in Uganda where the playing field was skewed, and the results decided well before the actual vote,” read part of the statement.

They pointed to a pattern of pre-election abuses, including attacks on journalists, the imprisonment of opposition figures, tear-gassing of peaceful assemblies, reported abductions of opposition members and candidates, and violence perpetrated by security forces in the lead-up to the vote.

The senators expressed particular alarm over the last-minute nationwide internet blackout, which they said undermined citizens' constitutional rights to freedom of expression.

They also condemned ongoing threats by General Kainerugaba--Museveni's son--against opposition figures, including Bobi Wine.

The statement called for the immediate release of prominent opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye--whose health has deteriorated while in detention--and human rights activist Dr Sarah Bireete, who remain in detention, and the restoration of operating permits for civil society organisations.

Ugandan authorities, the senators urged, must fulfil their obligations to uphold democracy, transparency, human rights, and the dignity of their citizens.

Shaheen and Booker urged US President Donald Trump's Administration and the US State Department to employ all available tools, including a review of US security assistance, to hold accountable those in Uganda responsible for undermining democratic principles and endangering citizens seeking to participate freely in the electoral process.

The bipartisan concerns reflect growing international unease over Uganda's democratic backsliding under long-term leadership.

On Friday, Bobi Wine said that masked men had attacked his wife and his people, who are still under effective house arrest.

“A group of masked, armed soldiers has just broken into our house and beat up my family members. They have currently isolated my wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi, alone. Their intentions are unclear!” Bobi Wine wrote via social media platform X.

The leader of People's Liberation Party (PLP) in Kenya, Martha Karua on Saturday condemned the attacks and threats on Bobi Wine, calling the African leaders and world leaders, including the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres to step in and help Ugandans.

“Harassment of Bobi Wine and his family unacceptable,” Ms Karua wrote.

However, Museveni has maintained that he means good for Ugandans and that opposition leaders are agents of external forces keen to destabilise the country.

There were eight presidential candidates in the January 15, 2026, polls.