The European Parliament has escalated pressure on Kampala following Uganda’s contested January 15, 2026 general elections, adopting a strongly worded resolution condemning post-election violence, threats against opposition figures and what it termed serious breaches of democratic standards.
In a vote that underscored rare cross-party consensus, 514 in favor, three against and 56 abstentions, the Parliament on February 12 declared that the elections failed to meet “fundamental democratic standards,” citing arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and restrictions on civil society. The resolution called for comprehensive reforms to strengthen the independence of Uganda’s Electoral
Commission and judiciary, and urged the release of individuals it described as political detainees.
The move was followed by a tense virtual session of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, chaired by Belgian MEP Hilde Vautmans and later vice-chaired by Ingeborg Ter Laak. Lawmakers heard from opposition leader Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, and governance advocate Dr. Sarah Bireete, both of whom described what they called a climate of repression following the vote.
Official results released by Uganda’s Electoral Commission show President Yoweri Museveni winning a seventh consecutive term with 7,946,772 votes, or 71.65 percent of valid ballots cast. Kyagulanyi placed second with 24.72 percent. Museveni, in power since 1986, has dismissed claims of electoral malpractice and maintains that the process was conducted in accordance with the law.
Addressing EU lawmakers remotely while in hiding, Kyagulanyi described the polls as a “military operation,” alleging that pre-election violence escalated from nomination day and that security forces continue to target opposition actors. He rejected the results as fraudulent but declined to petition the Supreme Court, citing what he called a lack of judicial independence.
Among the incidents he referenced was a social media post attributed to Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, head of Uganda’s Special Forces Command, which appeared to boast about violence against opposition supporters.
Kyagulanyi also faulted the government for shutting down the internet days before voting, a move widely criticized by rights groups, and for what he described as the Electoral Commission’s failure to promptly publish declaration forms for independent verification.
He urged the EU to consider targeted sanctions under the bloc’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, often likened to the Global Magnitsky framework, arguing that visa bans and asset freezes against specific officials would deter abuses without harming ordinary Ugandans. “Targeted sanctions do not hurt the nation; they save it,” he told lawmakers.
Dr. Bireete, executive director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, recounted her arrest on December 30 by security personnel who she said stormed her home while she was ill. She described three days of detention without initial charges and subsequent interrogation over her advocacy work on democracy and human rights.
She also criticized the suspension of several governance-focused NGOs, arguing that such actions contravene provisions of Uganda’s NGO Act and constitutional guarantees under Article 28, which enshrines the right to a fair hearing and presumption of innocence.
EU officials, while reaffirming Uganda as a “key partner” in regional peace and security, stressed that adherence to democratic principles and human rights is “non-negotiable.”
Jonas Jonsson of the European External Action Service highlighted Uganda’s strategic role as one of the largest troop contributors to the African Union mission in Somalia and as host to more than 1.5 million refugees, according to UNHCR data. He noted deepening trade and climate cooperation under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, as Brussels and Kampala mark 50 years of diplomatic relations.
However, Jonsson said the EU regretted “post-electoral violence and threats” flagged in a January 23 statement and would continue engaging government, opposition and civil society to promote electoral transparency, media freedoms and credible dispute resolution mechanisms. “Sustainable development hinges on accountable institutions,” he said.
International observer groups offered mixed assessments. A joint EU-IGAD-COMESA mission described voting day as “largely peaceful” but cited an uneven playing field, arrests of opposition actors and restrictions on information flows. Human Rights Watch reported more than 50 deaths linked to pre-election violence, while Amnesty International documented cases of prolonged detention without trial.
Kampala has forcefully rejected the European Parliament’s characterization.Uganda’s Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, defended the credibility of the process, stating that the Electoral Commission conducted the polls in line with national law and that legal avenues for redress remain open. He accused some EU lawmakers of relying on social media narratives and opposition accounts rather than official observer reports.
Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Adonia Ayebare, dismissed the European Parliament’s debate as diplomatically inconsequential, arguing that Uganda’s formal engagement is with the European Commission, not the Parliament.
“Our foreign policy isn’t run by the EU Parliament,” he said, likening the debate to Uganda’s legislature discussing elections in the Netherlands.
The diplomatic friction comes at a delicate moment for Uganda. Youth unemployment remains among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa, with World Bank estimates often placing joblessness or underemployment among those under 30 above 70 percent, amplifying public frustration over governance and economic opportunity.
For the EU, the challenge is balancing strategic interests in security, trade and refugee management with the bloc’s foundational values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union: human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights.
With a follow-up engagement expected ahead of the next Africa–EU parliamentary assembly in Abidjan, the debate signals that Uganda’s 2026 elections will continue to reverberate beyond its borders, testing both Kampala’s democratic credentials and Brussels’ willingness to align partnership with principle.
