Regional Lawyers Raise Alarm Over Uganda's Rule of Law, Demand End to Media Crackdown and Arbitrary Detentions

Regional Lawyers Raise Alarm Over Uganda's Rule of Law, Demand End to Media Crackdown and Arbitrary Detentions

From left: ICJ Chairperson Christine Alai, East Africa Law Society President Abubakar Mukira, and Executive Director Demas Kiprono address the media in Nairobi, calling for urgent action to safeguard the rule of law, media freedom and constitutional rights in Uganda.

By Jeff Oyugi 

Nairobi - July 1, 2026

Regional legal bodies have issued a strongly worded statement expressing deep concern over what they describe as a growing pattern of constitutional and statutory violations in Uganda, citing alleged arbitrary detentions, continued prosecution of legal practitioners, interference with media operations, and increasing military involvement in civilian affairs.

The joint statement, presented by the East Africa Law Society (EALS) alongside national bar associations across East Africa, the Pan-African Lawyers Union (PALU), the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), warned that recent developments in Uganda raise serious constitutional, legal and human rights concerns that require urgent action by Ugandan authorities.

Speaking during the presentation, East Africa Law Society President Abubakar Mukira said the organisations were responding to what they termed "continuing constitutional and statutory concerns affecting media freedom, personal liberty, the legal profession and the rule of law in Uganda."

Mukira said that while the organisations were not determining criminal liability or making judicial findings, they were duty-bound to identify prima facie constitutional concerns arising from developments in Uganda under national, regional and international legal frameworks.

He argued that the cumulative effect of the reported incidents threatens the foundational principles of constitutional governance, including personal liberty, freedom of expression, media freedom and the independence of the legal profession.

Among the issues highlighted was the reported detention and prosecution of senior legal practitioner and former Ugandan Minister of Ethics and Integrity Dr. Maria Matembe, whom the organisations said had allegedly been denied bail.

The statement also cited earlier reported abductions involving Dr. Sara Birete, Eunice Musime, and other individuals whose circumstances continue to emerge, as well as the continued prosecution of senior lawyer and former Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago.

According to Mukira, these developments point to what the organisations described as an expanding pattern of executive overreach, lack of transparency in detention processes and growing concerns over judicial independence and compliance with constitutional guarantees of due process.

He noted that, in Dr. Matembe's case, there had been no publicly available confirmation regarding the legal basis of her detention, her place of custody or whether constitutionally required safeguards had been observed.

The organisations argued that deprivation of liberty without prompt disclosure of lawful authority or verifiable custody raises serious constitutional concerns under Uganda's Constitution, particularly provisions protecting personal liberty, protection from torture, fair hearing and enforcement of human rights, alongside obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the United Nations Convention Against Torture.

The regional legal bodies also expressed alarm over reported disruption of operations at Nation Media Group Uganda outlets, including NTV Uganda, Spark TV and Daily Monitor, following reports of suspended broadcasting and deployment of security personnel at media premises.

ICJ Chairperson Ms. Christine Alai said press freedom is not a privilege granted by the state but a constitutional pillar essential for democratic governance, public accountability and citizens' right to access information.

She questioned reports that security agencies had intervened in media operations and noted that Uganda's Communications Act vests exclusive authority for regulating broadcasters in the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

According to the statement, any restriction of licensed media operations must satisfy strict constitutional and statutory tests of legality, necessity, proportionality, procedural fairness and independent oversight.

The organisations argued that any interference falling outside these legal requirements raises prima facie concerns of unlawful exercise of power and incompatibility with constitutional protections guaranteeing freedom of expression.

The statement further raised concern over what it described as a recurring pattern of public pronouncements and interventions by senior military leadership, including Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces, in matters ordinarily reserved for civilian institutions and statutory regulators.

Ms. Alai said these developments have generated growing concern across Uganda that the constitutional boundary between civilian authority and military command risks becoming increasingly blurred.

She maintained that the military's constitutional mandate is limited to protecting national interests and external security, not regulating the media or directing arrests of lawyers.

Citing Article 208 of Uganda's Constitution, the organisations stressed that the Uganda People's Defence Forces are required to remain professional, disciplined and politically impartial, with coercive power remaining subordinate to civilian authority.

Executive Director Demas Kiprono said Uganda's legal framework governing media operations is explicit, with regulatory authority resting solely with the Uganda Communications Commission under the Communications Act of 2013, while the Press and Journalists Act establishes the professional framework for media practice.

He argued that any interference outside these civilian statutory institutions raises serious concerns over constitutional non-compliance, unlawful assumption of authority and administrative irregularity.

Kiprono further said reported interference with legal practitioners and media institutions undermines constitutional guarantees relating to legal representation, access to justice, freedom of expression, enforcement of rights and civic participation.

He added that Uganda's obligations extend beyond its Constitution to regional and international treaties, including the East African Community Treaty, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the UN Convention Against Torture, the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and the African Declaration on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information.

The organisations said these legal instruments collectively require legality, accountability, judicial oversight, institutional independence and effective remedies whenever rights are threatened.

In their recommendations, the regional legal bodies called on the Government of Uganda to immediately disclose the legal basis, location and status of all detained persons, guarantee prompt access to lawyers, family members and medical care, restore affected media operations and reaffirm the Uganda Communications Commission's exclusive regulatory authority over broadcasters.

They also urged authorities to end any non-statutory interference in civilian regulatory functions, reaffirm constitutional civilian supremacy over security agencies, and establish independent, transparent and time-bound investigations into all alleged violations.

Mukira concluded that constitutional order depends not only on institutions but on faithful adherence to the limits imposed by law.

He warned that where detention lacks transparency, statutory mandates are displaced and coercive powers operate outside established legal frameworks, the rule of law comes under serious strain.

The statement was jointly signed by the East Africa Law Society, national bar associations from across East Africa, the Pan-African Lawyers Union, the International Commission of Jurists, the Kenya Human Rights Commission and other regional organisations, reflecting growing concern within the legal community over constitutional governance and the protection of fundamental rights in Uganda.