Political Prisoners

Political Prisoners Tracker

The Political Prisoners Tracker documents known cases of individuals in Uganda who are detained in connection with political activities, dissent, or charges involving national security and related offences. It provides a consolidated record of those detained, including their dates of detention, places of incarceration, charges and, where available, important developments concerning their cases and wellbeing. The tracker is intended to support public awareness, accountability and continued monitoring of cases involving deprivation of liberty and the exercise of fundamental rights.
Charges

Treason, Misprision of Treason, and Security and weapons offences.

Rt. Col. Kizza Besigye

Besigye’s health condition has continued to decline and he is in and out of hospital.

Mr Obeid Lutale

Obeid was Besigye’s personal aid and abducted with him in Nairobi in November, 2024.

Charges

Misprision of Treason

Erias Lukwago

Erias Lukwago is struggling with ill-health in jail and has twice applied for bail on this account.

Samuel Makhoha

Samuel was abducted at Entebbe Airport on his way from a conference in Ethiopia.

Charges

Unlawful Drilling

Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro

Alex is the deputy spokesperson of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party.

Edward Ssebufu aka Eddy Mutwe

Edward was abducted by Ugandan state operatives on April 27, 2025 in ...

Achileo Kivumbi

Achileo was first abducted on August 1, 2024 and held by the then Chieftaincy of Military ...

Year of detention: September 6, 2025
Prison: Upper Prison – Luzira.

 

Year of detention: February 12, 2025
Prison: Upper Prison – Luzira.

Sharif Lukenge

Sharif was abducted in late August 2025, held incommunicado for about two weeks and then formally charged and remanded to Luzira on September 8, 2025 where he remains.

Year of detention: February 12, 2025
Prison: Upper Prison – Luzira.

Tonny Kawesi

Tonny was abducted in late August 2025, held incommunicado for about two weeks and then formally charged and remanded to Luzira on September 8, 2025 where he remains.

Year of detention: Late August 2025
Prison: Upper Prison – Luzira.
Year of detention: January 15, 2026
Prison: Upper Prison – Luzira.
Year of detention: January 4, 2026
Prison: Upper Prison – Luzira.
Year of detention: Late August 2025
Prison: Upper Prison – Luzira.
Year of detention: January 4, 2026
Prison: Upper Prison – Luzira.
Charges
Illegal drilling, and conspiracy to commit a felony for all the three. Offences in relation to uniforms for Sauda Madaada and Olivia Lutaaya, and Offences Relating to Private Schools for Doreen Kaija

Doreen Kaija

Doreen was the administrator of National Unity Platform’s leadership school in Kamwokya. Her arrest and charge stem from her roles at the school.

Year of detention: September 14, 2025
Prison: Luzira Women’s Prison.

Olivia Lutaaya

Olivia was first abducted in May 2021 and held incommunicado and later charged at the military court in Makindye.

Sauda was abducted on September 9, 2025 at Uganda’s border post as she attempted to cross over into neighbouring Kenya.
 
Year of detention: Late August 2025
Prison: Upper Prison – Luzira.
Charges
The charges against these individuals kept changing – at some point they were charged with treachery, at another point it was possession of firearms, then treason, and finally possession of military stores.
The nine were part of the team abducted in May 2021 mostly on 12th – the eve of Museveni taking oath of office for his sixth term. They were charged before the court martial, then their files transferred to civilian courts after the Kabaziguruka ruling in 2025. Initially the file was thirty-four, in late 2024, the rest took a plea of guilty, were sentenced and then released under a presidential pardon. These nine stuck to their guns and were only released on July 31, 2026.
Prison: Kitalya Mini Max and Luzira
Prison: Kitalya Mini
Prison: Kitalya Mini
Prison: Kitalya Mini
Prison: Kitalya Mini Max and Luzira
Prison: Kitalya Mini
Prison: Kitalya Mini

Prison: Kitalya Mini Max and Luzira

Prison: Kitalya Mini Max

Charges
Spreading Hateful Information Against the Government of Uganda.

Anthony Agaba aka Bobi Young

Spreading hateful propaganda against the government of Uganda. Anthony has been arrested several times, never convicted but then kept in jail for very long periods of time.

Date of Detention: February 3, 2026

Charges
Computer Misuse violations and spreading malicious information and hate speech against judicial officers including Chief Justice Flavian Zeija.

Male Mabirizi

A known critic of the Ugandan government and judicial officers in particular, Male was first arrested on February 21, 2022 and convicted for a similar charge, served 18-months in jail, then released. Since his most recent arrest, he has spent the time required for mandatory bail, but the court has denied him bail more than once.

Date of Detention: February 3, 2026

Prison: Murchison Bay

Charges
Held incommunicado/in ungazetted place

Sam Mugumya

Sam has been under incommunicado detention since he was abducted by armed men in Mbarara in August 2025. In that time, he has neither been taken to court, or gazetted detention facility let alone seen publicly. In late July 2026 a short, eleven-second video of him appeared online after several reports that he was being detained at the military facility in Kasenyi.

Date of Detention: August 26, 2025