UN calls for end to Uganda's crackdown on dissent

International human‑rights organisations have condemned a “pervasive climate of fear” in [Country], citing a surge in violations and an intensified crackdown on opposition figures. In a joint statement released on Monday, the United Nations Human Rights Office, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch warned that recent arrests, restrictions on public assembly and the targeting of independent journalists signal a systematic erosion of civil liberties. The groups referenced documented cases of arbitrary detention, reports of torture in detention facilities and the forced disappearance of several activists who had been vocal in criticizing the government’s policies.

The statements come amid mounting evidence that security forces have expanded surveillance, shuttered opposition media outlets and imposed new legal barriers that impede political dissent. Officials from the [Country] government have defended the measures as necessary for national security, while the European Union and several foreign ministries have called for independent investigations and the release of detained individuals. The international community is urging the authorities to restore fundamental rights, ensure due process and allow unrestricted access for observers to verify compliance with international human‑rights standards.