The Ugandan government on Tuesday dismissed accusations that it is targeting the political opposition following this month’s presidential elections.
In a statement, Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi acknowledged that arrests had taken place, but said they were limited to individuals who had caused “problems.”
In the days immediately after the January 15 elections, security agencies reportedly ramped up their pursuit of opposition supporters.
Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, has been in hiding since incumbent President Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner of the presidential polls.
Official results showed Museveni winning with 71% of the vote, while Bobi Wine received 24%. Bobi Wine rejected the results as “fake,” alleging electoral fraud. The electoral commission has not responded to the claims.
Categories of arrest
The information minister explained that there were two categories of arrests, with the first including those who “wanted to cause violence simply because the candidate they supported lost the elections,” and the second involving "criminal gangs who were mobilized by their leaders to turn this election period as launching time to cause civil unrest in the country.”
“The category that was plotting such kind of violence has been arrested and those that are on the run will be got and apprehended as the law requires,” Baryomunsi added.
Bobi Wine has claimed that his supporters were being targeted, saying on social media that more than 100 people were killed in election-related violence, without providing evidence.
His comments followed remarks by Uganda’s army chief, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba — Museveni’s son — who said security forces had killed 22 opposition “terrorists” during poll-related unrest.
Opposition leaders missing
David Lewis Rubongoya, secretary-general of Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP), said several party leaders were either missing or under arrest across the country.
In his victory speech on Sunday, Museveni described the NUP as “terrorists,” accusing the party of attempting to use violence to overturn the election results.
