The Ugandan government is resorting to increasingly repressive measures in a bid to stamp out dissent, Amnesty International said in a report on Tuesday.
Opposition activists and journalists have been subjected to harassment and politically-motivated arrests for criticising the government, the rights group said.
Authorities have effectively banned public demonstrations and at least four opposition activists could face the death penalty over allegations that they were plotting to overthrow the government, the report said.
“The Ugandan authorities are creating a climate where it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to freely criticise government officials, their policies or practices,” Godfrey Odongo, Amnesty International’s Uganda researcher, said in a statement.
Police in October arrested dozens of opposition activists as they tried to restart a protest campaign against soaring living costs.
At least 10 people were killed and hundreds arrested by security forces during a harsh crackdown on similar demonstrations in April.
‘Blatant violation’
On Monday opposition leader Kizza Besigye was detained at his home outside Kampala as he attempted to take part in the protests after being kept under de facto house arrest for a week.
Journalists in the country are also suffering from increased restrictions and at least 30 Ugandan reporters face criminal charges relating to their work, the report said.
The rights group condemned proposed legislation that would make it easier for the authorities to block public meetings and muzzle journalists and blasted President Yoweri Museveni for suggesting the scrapping of pre-trial bail for certain charges.
“All these proposed measures impose impermissible and alarming restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in blatant violation of Uganda’s obligation under international law,” Odongo, the Amnesty Researcher, said.
The Ugandan government faces widespread discontent over spiralling food and fuel costs but so far opposition warnings of a North African-style popular revolt have failed to materialise.
The rate of inflation in Uganda topped 30% in October, reaching its highest level in almost two decades. — AFP