In a very strong and history-making criticism of Uganda’s security force, the Uganda Law Society (ULS) has denounced the supposed illegal house arrest of the opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu—popularly known as Bobi Wine—along with his family, accusing the state’s forces of severely transgressing the constitutional rights.
The statement of the organization, which was made public on Tuesday, has sharpened the focus on the government’s conduct in the wake of the controversial presidential election held on January 15.
The ULS stated that the reports in the media and the testimonies from the witnesses point to the fact that the security officers have cordoned off and sealed the house of the Wine family in Magere, Wakiso District, and have limited movement to and fro as well as the bringing in of essential supplies, such as food and medicine.
The society denounced the security action as arbitrary and likened it to depriving people of their rights and livelihoods and further to actions that are not in conformity with the Constitution of Uganda.
“The deployment of security forces has the practical effect of arbitrary imprisonment and deprivation of livelihood,” the ULS proclaimed in its harshly worded announcement, repeating that the 1995 Constitution is assuring personal liberty, right of movement, and decent living for all citizens.
The society contended that no right can be curtailed without legal grounds and lashed out at the authorities for making people suffer in degrading and inhuman ways.
The legal entity also condemned the public discourse associated with high military officials that it claims has aggravated political issues and obliterated the law and order. The ULS cautioned that such rhetoric, accompanied by the military presence, risks the pluralism of politics and might suffocate the civic space at a very important period for democracy in Uganda.
The organization called for the restrictions to be lifted immediately and urged the security forces to act only within the constitution and to respect the fundamental rights and freedoms. “The people of Uganda must have a political contest that is totally free and fair and not through oppression, deprivation, or threats to life and survival,” the organization declared in its statement.
The legal profession’s involvement comes at a time of widespread national turmoil after a disputed election in which President Yoweri Museveni was proclaimed the victor despite claims of electoral malpractice, an internet shutdown, and a massive security presence against opposition supporters.
The situation is still very much in flux, as President Museveni’s government has not yet directly countered the ULS denunciation. At the same time, international human rights organizations and diplomatic missions have voiced increasing alarm regarding the situation in Uganda—forbidding political activities and trampling on human rights.
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