EU holds Uganda to human rights standards, good governance

Deep in thoughts wondering where Uganda’s main opposition leader could be hiding after a raid on his home and horrible assault of his wife by the nation’s security forces, my mind was on Sam Mugumya, a seasoned political activist whose whereabouts are still unknown since the beginning of 2026 elections. Mugumya, Dr Kiiza Besigye’s political assistant, was abducted by non-uniformed men from a hotel in Mbarara. There is no update regarding his whereabouts nor does his close family know.

He joins the list of John Bosco Kibalama and a litany of other missing Ugandans. Going through previous posts on his official X account to clarify when he last made a communication, l came across a viral tweet from the European Union parliament regarding Uganda’s 2026 elections. My thoughts deepened.

On 12 February the European Union parliament adopted three resolutions on human rights violations in Iran, Turkey and Uganda. The resolution for Uganda was about the 2026 elections shortcomings, state of human rights observation and democracy. The EU resolution condemning Uganda’s current oppressive and repressive government regarding the 2026 elections was adopted by 514 votes in favour, three against with 56 abstentions.

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The resolution underpins widespread intimidation, harassment and detention of opposition key figures, internet blackout, persecution of Bobi Wine and Dr Besigye, suspension of civil society, torture and enforced disappearances as crimes against humanity which undermine EU principles, values and development corporation. The EU members in Brussels concluded by calling for impartial investigations into crimes and atrocities committed by political and military leaders. However, back in Uganda the resolution received mixed reactions across the spectrum, where victims of oppression and enablers of oppression made strong responses.

While the majority of right-thinking Ugandans applauded the EU parliament for taking a firm stand demanding accountability for lives lost and good governance, yet again some naive oppression enablers aligned to the National Resistance Movement accused the EU of interference and meddling in matters of a sovereign state. For instance, one of the respondents named Walokoka Omwijukuru in the X thread of the EU account stated: “This is not a colony of the EU parliament, you have a lot of issues to solve in your backyard, deal with them first.” I wish to leverage on this particular absurd response accusing the EU of interference and meddling in matters of a sovereign state to expound my thoughts and defend human rights, democracy and good governance.

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