Martha Karua criticises silence over Uganda crackdown
By Faith Lagat, January 24, 2026Kenyan opposition leader Martha Karua has condemned regional and international bodies for remaining silent amid escalating human rights abuses in Uganda following the disputed January 15, 2026, presidential election.
In an X post on January 24, 2026, Karua directly challenged institutions and leaders, asking, “Where is @jumuiya @ymahmoudali @AUC_PAPS @achpr_cadhp @CyrilRamaphosa @achpr_cadhp this offends regional and international human rights standards @KagutaMuseveni.”
Her message tagged the East African Community (EAC), African Union Commission departments, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
The post came in response to a Reuters Africa report detailing a brutal post-election crackdown in Uganda.
Detentions and killings spark outrage
According to Reuters, Uganda’s military chief, Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, President Museveni’s son, admitted authorities had detained over 2,000 opposition supporters and killed 30 following the election.
Museveni, 81, was declared the winner of a seventh term, defeating opposition leader Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi) of the National Unity Platform (NUP). The election was marred by allegations of fraud, ballot stuffing, and an internet blackout during polling.
Kainerugaba referred to NUP supporters as “hooligans and terrorists,” claiming, “So far we have killed 30 NUP terrorists,” and vowing, “Most NUP terrorist leaders are in hiding. We shall get them all.” No details were provided on the circumstances of the deaths. Opposition figures maintain that security forces targeted peaceful supporters.
High-profile arrests, including NUP deputy Muwanga Kivumbi, have been reported, along with detentions in unofficial centers, allegations of torture, and missing senior NUP figures. Wine reportedly went into hiding after a raid on his residence.
Calls for accountability
Karua’s intervention highlights frustration in East Africa over the lack of action on democratic backsliding in Uganda, emphasizing violations of regional and international human rights norms. She is urging leaders and institutions to confront the repression rather than remain silent.
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed concern, with his spokesperson emphasizing “the importance of restraint by all actors and respect for the rule of law and Uganda’s international human rights obligations.”