Electoral injustices, abductions still undermining rule of law in Uganda – ULS report

A new report by the Uganda Law Society (ULS) examining the state of the rule of law over the last six months has highlighted persistent human rights abuses, electoral injustices, and limited access to justice, even as it noted legislative and judicial progress in the country.

The report, covering the period between January and June 2026, analyzes emerging trends across constitutional governance, public institutions, administration of justice, human rights, and Uganda’s broader democratic environment. Built around four pillars—checks and balances, transparency and accountability, human rights, and due process—the assessment paints a mixed picture of the nation’s legal landscape.

Speaking at the launch at ULS offices in Kampala, ULS Vice President Antony Asiimwe stated that while the report acknowledges some positive institutional developments, overall findings point to deep concerns regarding state-sponsored violations and political repression.

“A very big concern for us and various reports from civil society organizations, oversight institutions, and the media indicate recurring violations affecting civil liberties, access to justice, and accountability of state actors, especially security agencies and other government institutions, the first of all being electoral injustice,” Mr. Asiimwe said.

He noted that the pre-election period running from late last year into early this year, as well as the general elections themselves, were marred by widespread irregularities.

“We saw the injustices during the pre-election period which moved from the end of last year up to the beginning of this year and the general elections themselves. The period was marred by injustices raising questions relating to the protection of electoral rights, accountability of security agencies, transparency of the electoral processes, and the ability of citizens and political actors to participate freely in this democratic process,” he added.

The ULS executive also noted that the reporting period witnessed continuing reports of enforced disappearances and abductions across the country.

Despite these grave concerns, the report documented landmark judicial and legislative milestones that advanced civil liberties. Chief among them was the March 17, 2026 Constitutional Court judgment in the consolidated petition of Uganda Law Society v. Attorney General and others.

The ruling struck down controversial sections of the Computer Misuse Amendment Act of 2022—including provisions on unauthorized access, hate speech, unsolicited information, and misuse of social media—as well as Section 162 of the Penal Code Act regarding libel, significantly bolstering freedom of expression.

The report also commended the enactment of the Magistrates’ Courts Amendment Act 2026, which expanded the pecuniary jurisdiction of Chief Magistrates from Shs50 million to Shs200 million. Mr. Asiimwe observed that because High Court circuits are not present in every region, strengthening Magistrates’ Courts brings formal justice closer to ordinary citizens.

Similarly, the ULS welcomed the Employment Amendment Act 2026, which came into force on June 5, 2026, introducing stricter safeguards against workplace harassment and clearer procedural rules for employee termination.

To decentralize appellate justice, the Judiciary established eight regional Court of Appeal circuits—a move expected to reduce heavy travel costs for upcountry litigants and clear a massive backlog. Judicial statistics show that in the 2024/2025 financial year, the Court of Appeal carried over 11,848 cases from previous years alongside 3,235 new registrations, leaving pending cases at 52 percent.

However, operationalization of the Integrated Court Management Information System (ICMIS) received mixed reviews. Mr. Asiimwe pointed out that while intended to modernize court processes, lower internet penetration and inadequate preparation have hampered its effectiveness. Citing a May 2026 readiness assessment by PM Digital Law Hub, he noted that only 52.9 percent of stakeholders had received formal training, while 97.2 percent reported difficulties accessing the platform.

ULS Chief Executive Officer Christine Awori stated that the report’s findings offer public institutions an opportunity to self-reflect and commit to necessary structural reforms. The report further commended the Inspectorate of Government (IG) for its ongoing investigations into parliamentary corruption, which have led to the remand of several implicated officials.

Responding to the findings, the Director of Legal Affairs at the Inspectorate of Government, Ms. Hilda Talibba, emphasized that institutional collaboration remains vital to enforcing integrity across the public sector.

“The Inspectorate’s jurisdiction covers government, public servants, and public funds, making institutional cooperation important in ensuring accountability and proper use of public resources,” Ms. Talibba said.

Contributions from other security and justice sector actors were also highlighted during the launch. Ms. Aliyo Natukunda, Senior Commissioner of Prisons in charge of Legal Affairs and Human Rights, noted that 20 prison units have now been equipped with Zoom facilities to conduct remote court hearings, mitigating logistical challenges in transporting inmates.

Reaffirming the enforcement mandate, Senior Superintendent of Police Dorothy Kyobutungi, Commissioner of Police for Human Rights, assured the public that the Uganda Police Force remains committed to upholding human rights while fulfilling its constitutional duties to protect life, property, and public order under Article 22 of the Constitution.

The launch concluded with a call for sustained dialogue between the legal fraternity, state agencies, and civil society to safeguard Uganda’s constitutional democracy.