Uganda’s civic space shrinks further amid oil protests, arrests – report
Uganda’s civic space in 2024 continued to reflect a troubling mix of progress and regression, according to a new report by the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders-Uganda (NCHRD-U).
Speaking at the launch of the 2024 Civic Space Index Report, NCHRD-U executive director, Bob Kirenga, said the findings offer a critical reflection on the evolving civic environment and what it means for citizen engagement, democratic governance, and the protection of human rights in Uganda.
“Civic space is the environment that enables individuals and groups to contribute meaningfully to the political, economic, and social life of their country,” Kirenga said.
“This includes accessing information, engaging in dialogue, expressing dissent, and organizing collectively.” Environmental Activism Under Siege The 54-page report, titled “Citizenry Perspectives on the Trends, Patterns and Prospects on the Civic Engagement Landscape in Uganda,” notes that while the government made some strides in creating an enabling civic environment, several actions significantly undermined civic freedoms particularly around environmental and extractive sector activism.
In 2024, the government reportedly intensified its crackdown on citizens demanding environmentally sound models of extractives, particularly regarding oil exploration in the Albertine region.
The report documents a sharp rise in arrests and intimidation of environmental defenders and youth activists opposed to oil and gas projects such as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), Tilenga, and Kingfisher, operated by TotalEnergies and CNOOC.
“In August alone, at least 72 activists, including many students, were arrested,” the report reveals.
“By the end of the year, that number had risen to 81 since May.” On August 26, 2024, at least 21 activists were arrested during a peaceful march to deliver a petition against EACOP. Earlier that same month, 47 protesting students were also detained.
“These arrests were accompanied by heavy-handed tactics designed to intimidate human rights defenders and civil society actors advocating for environmental protection,” the report says, noting a consistent pattern of judicial harassment, threats, and even allegations of torture.
Despite the nonviolent nature of most protests, security forces reportedly responded with brute force, further constricting the civic space for activism.
Political dissent and drone arrests
Beyond environmental issues, the report also highlights continued repression of political participation. Supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) were particularly targeted, with the party alleging that over 100 of its supporters were being held incommunicado in 2024 alone.
The report flags the rising use of ‘drone’ arrests, a term used to describe abductions carried out by unmarked vans, which often result in disappearances and prolonged detentions without trial.
Many of those detained reported experiencing torture, forced confessions, and pressure to compromise.
“This environment of intimidation is further exacerbated by attempts by state actors to silence or compromise those in detention, creating a climate of fear designed to deter dissent,” the report states.
The report laments that these violations persist despite existing legal protections enshrined in Uganda’s constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, political affiliation, and civic participation.
“The sustained repression, arrests, and harassment of opposition politicians and the halting of their lawful public meetings, reflect a broader trend of shrinking political space,” it notes.
Produced with support from the European Union and Danida, the report calls for renewed efforts to uphold citizens’ rights and reverse the trend of state-led intimidation and shrinking civic space.
“The future of democratic governance and citizen participation in Uganda hinges on how the government responds to legitimate dissent, especially in sensitive areas like environmental justice,” Kirenga said.
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