KAMPALA – As Uganda celebrated 60 years of independence, the question on many citizens’ minds was
not about the past, but about the present: Are Ugandans truly free? Or is freedom an illusion reserved for
a few?
The Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, assembly, and political participation. Yet opposition
rallies are routinely blocked, journalists harassed, and candidates who dare challenge the ruling party
often face intimidation, detention, or worse.
The 2021 general election remains fresh in memory. Opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi,
better known as Bobi Wine, was arrested multiple times. Dozens of his supporters disappeared. Human
rights watchdogs documented killings, mass arrests, and the silencing of dissent.
Among the many cases is that of Moses Kakuru, an aspiring parliamentary candidate from western
Uganda. After declaring his interest to represent his people in 2021, he was detained, tortured, and later
released under unclear circumstances. His brother was later found dead, while another sibling was shot
at an opposition rally. Kakuru himself narrowly survived torture that left him partially blind.
His family’s cries for accountability have gone unanswered echoing the experiences of many others
whose loved ones were disappeared in election-related crackdowns.
Similar stories continue to surface: activists like Nicholas Opiyo arrested on dubious charges, journalists
such as those from The Observer newspaper assaulted while covering protests, and ordinary citizens
detained for wearing opposition colors.
For many Ugandans, these incidents cast doubt on whether independence has delivered true freedom.
“On paper, we are free. In reality, people fear speaking their minds,” said a university student in Kampala.
“If someone can vanish for standing in an election, then what kind of freedom is that?”
As Uganda looks ahead, the question lingers: Is freedom alive, or is it only a word in the Constitution,
stripped of meaning by everyday reality?
Uganda at 60 – Freedom or Illusion?
