Ugandan dissidents and opposition members living abroad have petitioned the Dutch government and international bodies regarding human rights abuses, election irregularities, and the government’s repression of dissent.
The group stood in solidarity outside the Amsterdam Central Station on Sunday, calling on the Dutch government and the public to support the fight for democracy and human rights. They also commemorated the victims of the 2020 political massacre in Uganda.
On November 2020, Ugandan security forces brutally clamped down on people protesting the arrest of opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), killing 54 people and injuring scores more.
Among the peaceful protesters on November 22 were William Ntege alias Kyuma Kya Yesu from Canada, Godfrey Muwanguzi, Rebecca Naava (the chairperson of National Unity Platform Netherlands/ Belgium chapter) among others.
They called on the Dutch government and public to support the fight for democracy and human rights. Uganda continues to grapple with significant human rights challenges. Critics, opposition figures and protesters have faced government intimidation tactics, including surveillance, harassment and jail. These tactics aim at silencing dissenting voices and discouraging public demonstrations.
Uganda has a significant number of political prisoners, often detained for participating in protests or for their involvement in opposition politics. Detainees have reported experiencing torture, harsh prison conditions, and being denied access to lawyers and family. The number of political prisoners is believed to be high, with one opposition party listing over 600 detained members, though the actual number is likely higher.
