Uganda’s main opposition has sharply criticised the government’s militarised approach to politics, denouncing the East African nation as effectively operating as a “military state” just days before the January 15, 2026 general election, a contest expected to extend President Yoweri Museveni’s four-decade rule amid allegations of repression, intimidation and the heavy use of security forces.
The comments came during a prayer gathering on Sunday at the home of an imprisoned opposition figure, where voices from across the fractured opposition movement expressed defiance and alarm at the role of the military in Uganda’s political sphere.
At the prayer event, Erias Lukwago, the mayor of Kampala and a key opposition figure, framed the election as a stark choice between ordinary Ugandans and entrenched power.
“All of you are in two categories: *political prisoners and potential political prisoners,” Lukwago said, highlighting widespread concerns over the security forces’ treatment of dissenters ahead of polling day.
His remarks echoed those of Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS and wife of veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who has been detained on treason charges. Byanyima told reporters that Uganda has “only a thin veneer of democracy,” arguing that state power, especially through the military, has increasingly overshadowed civilian political processes.
“We are really a *military state,” she said, accusing security forces and state institutions of being tightly controlled by President Museveni’s administration.
Prominent opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, has embodied the rising frustrations among many Ugandans, campaigning amid numerous confrontations with the police and military. In recent days, his campaign rallies have reportedly been disrupted by force, with campaign teams and supporters at times met with tear gas and violent pushback.
Wine, vocal in his criticism of the government’s handling of opposition activities, has repeatedly described the campaign period as a “war,” pointing to the frequent deployment of security personnel at events and the repeated arrests and harassment of his supporters.
Reports from rights groups and international observers have documented hundreds of arrests, with several death reports linked to clashes between security forces and political activists. Critics say these patterns of repression threaten the credibility of the electoral process if they continue unchecked.
Academic and civil society voices have also weighed in on the role of Uganda’s security apparatus, arguing that the police and military are not acting as neutral guardians of public safety but rather as tools of the incumbent government. A researcher cited in reports noted that many officers view their duty as supporting those in power, not upholding impartial law enforcement.
Concerns about the militarisation of politics arise against a backdrop of increased armoured deployments and heightened patrols by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) alongside police in Kampala and other regions, actions the government says are intended to maintain stability but which critics view as deterrence against opposition mobilisation.
The opposition has long argued that the detention of political figures, including Besigye and other critics, reflects a broader pattern of limiting political competition. Such detentions have drawn international scrutiny, with rights groups noting that prolonged imprisonment and alleged mistreatment of opponents create an atmosphere of fear and discourage civic participation.
As the election approaches, these tensions encapsulate a larger debate over Uganda’s democratic future: whether the vote will offer genuine choice and freedom or simply formalise an entrenched leadership backed by a powerful military and security apparatus.
