Brussels, Belgium | THE INDEPENDENT | The European Parliament has stepped up scrutiny of Uganda’s political path after the disputed January 15, 2026, elections, issuing a dedication condemning put up-election violence and expressing drawl over threats to opposition leaders and civil society actors. On the Delegation to the African–EU Parliamentary Assembly (DAFR) accepted session in Brussels on Monday, chaired by Belgian MEP Hilde Vautmans, lawmakers reaffirmed Uganda as a “key partner” in regional peace and security, however underscored that adherence to democratic principles and human rights stays “non-negotiable.”
The controversy follows a February 12 dedication handed by an incredible majority, 514 votes in favour, three against, and 56 abstentions, expressing “serious concerns” over the behavior and aftermath of Uganda’s 2026 polls. Uganda stays central to European strategic pursuits in East Africa.
It’s one among the largest troop-contributing countries to the African Union peace make stronger mission in Somalia and hosts higher than 1.5 million refugees, mainly from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, basically based on UN figures, making it Africa’s largest refugee-web web hosting nation.
“Uganda is a really most important partner for Europe with regards to regional peace and security,” Vautmans really helpful the committee. “On the the same time, our commitment to human rights and significant freedoms is non-negotiable. We won’t alarmed some distance off from sophisticated conversations.”
EU lawmakers linked their engagement to the spirit of the Samoa Agreement, the put up-Cotonou framework guiding kinfolk between the EU and African, Caribbean, and Pacific states, which emphasizes governance, accountability, and human rights. Exhibiting remotely sooner than the Parliament, opposition chief Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, successfully is thought as Bobi Wine and head of the Nationwide Solidarity Platform (NUP), alleged in kind repression sooner than, at some point of, and after the vote.
“What came about on the 15th of January turned into once no longer an election. It turned into once a protection pressure operation,” Kyagulanyi talked about, claiming that security forces raided his dwelling days after the vote and that his family turned into once assaulted. He described himself as “in hiding” due to the continuing threats.
Kyagulanyi accused the Electoral Commission, chaired by Justice Simon Byabakama, of failing to transparently post declaration of results kinds as required by laws, arguing that genuine tallies differed from records gathered by his celebration brokers. He talked about the opposition declined to drawl the results in court docket because it had “no self assurance” within the judiciary’s independence.
Uganda’s authorities via the Ministry of ICT and Nationwide Guidance, headed by Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, has repeatedly defended the credibility of its electoral processes, affirming that voting turned into once largely soundless and performed basically based on nationwide laws. The Electoral Commission previously talked about that results reflected the need of the of us and that fair avenues for redress remained initiate to aggrieved occasions.
Moreover addressing lawmakers turned into once Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG) and a regional election observer. She detailed her gradual-December arrest, alleging unlawful detention, denial of fair access, confiscation of devices, and digital impersonation.
“I turned into once profiled as a foul individual for promoting democracy and human rights,” she really helpful the Parliament, arguing that the suspension of diverse governance-focused NGOs violated Uganda’s NGO Act and constitutional ensures.
Uganda’s Constitution ensures rights to due course of, fair representation, and freedom of association. Nonetheless, rights groups enjoy long raised concerns about skittish civic home, critically at some point of electoral cycles. Responding to the dedication, European External Movement Service genuine Jonas Jonsson reaffirmed that the EU had acknowledged the election results in a January 23 assertion whereas expressing remorse over put up-election violence and threats against opposition actors.
“Our observations acknowledged largely soundless voting, whereas highlighting concerns related to the political taking part in field, arrests of opposition actors, and restrictions affecting access to recordsdata,” Jonsson talked about.
He emphasised that the EU would continue participating both authorities and opposition, supporting governance reforms, civic training, and institutional strengthening. Uganda and the EU value 50 years of diplomatic kinfolk. “The EU stays a predictable and long-term partner supporting Uganda’s democratic hurry via dialogue, cooperation, and shared commitment to balance and inclusive governance,” he added.
Kyagulanyi informed the EU to impose focused sanctions below devices such because the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, in overall referred to because the EU’s version of the Global Magnitsky framework, against officials implicated in alleged abuses. “Targeted sanctions achieve no longer damage the nation; they achieve it aside,” he argued, calling for visa bans and asset freezes against particular security and political leaders.
The European Parliament dedication equally known as for impartial investigations into alleged human rights violations and for reviewing EU cooperation to make distinct alignment with democratic principles.
Nonetheless, any switch toward sanctions would require consensus amongst EU member states, a dedication taken by the Council, no longer Parliament on my own, and would seemingly weigh broader geopolitical concerns, at the side of Uganda’s regional security role.
The 2026 elections value one more chapter in Uganda’s advanced political evolution below President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in strength since 1986. Critics argue that constitutional amendments hunting down presidential age and term limits enjoy entrenched incumbency advantages, whereas the authorities insists reforms had been legally enacted and replicate parliamentary sovereignty.
For Brussels, the jam is balancing principled diplomacy with pragmatic engagement in a volatile location. As Vautmans concluded, “Accountability is a central theory of democracy. As partners, we favor to work together to enhance the scenario of the Ugandan population, however we are capable of no longer contribute to the silencing of opposition.”
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