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resolution motion, 9 February 2026

On the post-election situation in Uganda and threats against opposition leader Bobi Wine

Motion B-10-2026-0123 · (2026/2611(RSP))

<OptDel>on behalf of the S&D Group</OptDel> · Rapporteur: Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Hannes Heide

On Parliament’s site PDF Word

AI:In short

This resolution condemns the human rights situation and post-election crackdown in Uganda, including violence against opposition leader Bobi Wine and his party, and calls for an end to abuses and accountability. It urges the EU and its member states to engage critically with Uganda and review cooperation, prioritising support for democratic forces.

Key points

  1. Deplores the human rights situation in Uganda, including crackdowns on civil society, harassment, mass arrests, torture, and criminal proceedings for dissent.
  2. Condemns harassment of Bobi Wine, violence against opposition members, and forced disappearances of NUP leaders, which undermined the electoral process.
  3. Urges Ugandan authorities to end violence and arbitrary detention, release political prisoners, provide information on missing leaders, and ensure justice through transparent investigations.
  4. Condemns suppression of civil society, attacks on journalists and human rights defenders, and internet shutdowns.
  5. Urges Uganda to end suspensions of civil society groups, release activists like Sarah Bireete, stop military trials of civilians, and refrain from internet restrictions.
  6. Calls on the EU and member states to critically engage with Ugandan authorities and monitor trials related to election violations.
  7. Calls on the Commission to review cooperation with Uganda and prioritise support for democratic movement, including civil society, human rights defenders, journalists, and opposition parties.

Who is affected

  • Ugandan authorities: must end violence, release detainees, and ensure accountability.
  • EU and member states: to engage critically and review cooperation with Uganda.
  • Opposition politicians, supporters, civil society, journalists, and human rights defenders in Uganda: targeted for protection and support.

Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem

Full text

Text 17 paragraphs

B100123/2026

European Parliament resolution on the post-election situation in Uganda and threats against opposition leader Bobi Wine

(2026/2611(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas on 15 January 2026, President Yoweri Museveni was elected for his seventh term with an apparent 71.65 percent of the vote;

B.whereas the weeks before the elections were marred by abuses, with the government violently cracking down on opposition members, journalists and protesters, and restricting freedom of information and expression, including the alleged killing on 28 November of opposition supporter Mesach Okello, the reported beating on 8 December of Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), and his supporters during a rally, the arrest on 30 December of human rights activist and government critic Sarah Bireete, the suspension on 12 January of at least ten NGOs on unsubstantiated grounds, and the imposition on 13 January of a blanket internet shutdown;

C.whereas the elections failed to meet fundamental democratic standards;

D.whereas since the elections, the military has laid siege to the home of Bobi Wine, assaulting his family, and destroying property; whereas attacks against the NUP intensified, including mass arrests of supporters; whereas NUP regional leaders Jolly Jackline Tukamushaba and Lina Zedriga Waru have been abducted and remain missing;

1.Deplores the human rights situation in Uganda, notably the crackdown on civil society, harassment, mass arrests, systematic torture, detention abuse and criminal proceedings for exercising freedoms or expressing dissent;

2.Strongly condemns the harassment of Bobi Wine, the systematic violence against members of the NUP and other opposition parties resulting in deaths of unarmed civilians, and the forced disappearance of Jolly Jackline Tukamushaba and Lina Zedriga Waru, which severely undermined the electoral process;

3.Urges the Ugandan authorities to end all violence, threats, harassment and arbitrary detention of opposition politicians and supporters, including Bobi Wine and his relatives, to immediately and unconditionally release all those arrested solely for their political activity, to urgently provide information on the whereabouts of missing NUP leaders, and to ensure justice and accountability for violations committed before and after the elections, through transparent, impartial and thorough investigations;

Read the rest (5 paragraphs)

4.Strongly condemns the suppression of civil society, the attacks against journalists and human rights defenders, and the internet shutdowns;

5.Urges the Ugandan authorities to end the arbitrary suspensions on civil society groups, and the arrests of and abusive charges against activists, including Sarah Bireete, to stop resorting to military trials against civilians, and to refrain from any further internet restrictions;

6.Calls on the EU and its Member States to critically engage with the Ugandan authorities at the highest level regarding the violations committed before and after the elections, closely monitoring the relevant trials;

7.Calls on the Commission to review cooperation with and assistance to Uganda, and prioritise support for the democratic movement in Uganda including civil society organisations, human rights and LGBTQI+ defenders, journalists and opposition parties;

8.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the HR/VP, the Member States, the African Union, the UN, the Government and Parliament of Uganda.