Retired Major General Mugisha Muntu, founder of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) and former Chief of Defence Forces, has issued a stern warning about the growing threat of political torture in Uganda.
Speaking at a recent human rights event, Muntu predicted that the 2026 general elections could turn out to be more violent than the 2021 polls.
As a respected opposition figure and former president of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Muntu expressed deep concern over increasing state repression and the erosion of democratic freedoms in the country.
In contrast, Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Chairperson Mariam Wangadya urged for calm and cooperation among all stakeholders.
Represented by Pauline Nansamba Mutumba, UHRC’s Director of Complaints, Investigations, and Legal Decisions, Wangadya made the appeal during the Uganda Law Society’s commemoration of the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
Held under the theme “A Torture and Violence-Free Election for All, By All,” the event underscored the urgency of upholding human rights and ensuring electoral processes remain free from violence and intimidation.
Exiled Ugandan author and torture survivor Kakwenza Rukirabashaija addressed the audience virtually from Germany, recounting his harrowing experience.
He highlighted the danger of human rights violators holding high-ranking positions in Uganda.
Anthony Asiimwe, Vice President of the Uganda Law Society, emphasized that the normalization of torture must end. “We cannot excuse it as discipline, interrogation, or just doing one’s job,” he said. “If we tolerate this, we are complicit.”
Asiimwe shared first-hand accounts of abuse, including a recent case in which a detainee had been held for more than two weeks without due process. “Even police station heads admit they have no jurisdiction, and that detainees are being moved from station to station by units like the Flying Squad,” he said.
The event ended with a call for urgent reforms and collective responsibility to safeguard human rights as Uganda moves closer to the 2026 general elections.
By Ben Musanje
4th July 2025
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