Political policing in Uganda and what it means for the 2026 vote

Uganda’s police have long faced criticism for politically charged interventions. These include episodes in which lethal force has been used in ways observers describe as excessive or indiscriminate. The main targets of restrictive or coercive tactics are supporters of the political opposition.For example, in November 2020, weeks before the 2021 elections, protests following the arrest of the main opposition candidate escalated into nationwide unrest, leaving more than 100 people dead.Get Full Access for Ksh299/WeekBold Reporting Takes Time, Courage and Investment. Stand With Us.Support Bold JournalismUnlimited access to all premium contentUninterrupted ad-free browsing experienceMobile-optimized reading experienceWeekly NewslettersMPesa, Airtel Money and Cards acceptedAlready a subscriber?Log inFollow The Standard
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For example, in November 2020, weeks before the 2021 elections, protests following the arrest of the main opposition candidate escalated into nationwide unrest, leaving more than 100 people dead.Get Full Access for Ksh299/WeekBold Reporting Takes Time, Courage and Investment. Stand With Us.Support Bold JournalismUnlimited access to all premium contentUninterrupted ad-free browsing experienceMobile-optimized reading experienceWeekly NewslettersMPesa, Airtel Money and Cards acceptedAlready a subscriber?Log inFollow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

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