A chilling development from Kampala. British-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised the alarm after a prominent Ugandan lawyer was charged with treason. The lawyer, known for representing political detainees, now faces a potential death sentence. HRW’s statement accused President Yoweri Museveni of “systematic repression” ahead of the 2026 elections.
This is not a random act. Museveni, in power since 1986, has a playbook. Crack down on dissent before a vote. The charge sheet is thin, but Uganda’s courts rarely acquit in such cases. The lawyer, whose name is being withheld for security reasons, was arrested in a dawn raid on his home.
The British government has been silent. Too silent. A Foreign Office source told me they are “monitoring the situation.” That is Whitehall code for doing nothing. Meanwhile, HRW’s Uganda director called it a “clear sign of a slide into dictatorship.”
Let’s be clear. This matters in Westminster. Uganda is a key aid recipient. Britain provides £40 million annually in development assistance. There is leverage. But will it be used? The Foreign Affairs Committee has been sniffing around. Expect a strongly worded letter soon.
The timing is everything. Museveni is feeling the heat. His son’s succession plan is faltering. Inflation is up. The opposition is gaining. So you go after the lawyers. It is classic strongman tactics.
Behind the scenes, diplomatic sources say UK officials are privately furious. But public condemnation risks playing into Museveni’s “neo-colonial” narrative. It is a trap. The PM’s Africa envoy is due in Kampala next week. That visit is now a diplomatic minefield.
HRW’s intervention is significant. Their report warns that the charge is “part of a broader assault on the rule of law.” They point to similar cases in 2021 and 2023. The pattern is clear.
For now, the lawyer remains in custody. His family has been denied access. The British High Commission is “seeking consular access.” They should be doing more. The mood in Kampala is tense. Protesters gathered outside the court today. Police used tear gas.
The story is developing. But the trajectory is worrying. If Museveni gets away with this, the backbench rebellion in Parliament will be loud. Labour is already sharpening its knives. The government must act. Or be seen as complicit.
