ProtectDefenders.eu has reported harassment against the human rights organisation Students for Global Democracy (SGD) and its members, including the arbitrary arrests and subsequent release of its Founder, Mike Gesa Munabi, and field officer, Johnbosco Mutyaba. SGD, founded in 2005, is a student-led organisation focused on increasing youth participation in democratic processes and sustainable development in Uganda and beyond.
On July 23, 2024, Johnbosco Mutyaba was arrested at the Central Police Station in Kampala while seeking the release of pro-democracy activists. He was released later that day without charges.
Similarly, on June 21, 2024, Mike Gesa Munabi was arrested, accused of « inciting violence » and « offensive communication » related to his advocacy for democracy and good governance. He was released the following day. These arrests are part of broader harassment against SGD, which also faced office break-ins in December 2023 and acts of intimidation, including surveillance by suspected government agents.
This harassment occurs amid growing tension ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections, as the government cracks down on human rights defenders and civil society. Freedom of expression and association are increasingly restricted, with defenders facing threats, physical attacks, and judicial harassment. In May and June 2024 alone, 11 human rights defenders were subjected to abductions, arbitrary arrests, and other forms of repression.
The crackdown has intensified, especially concerning protests against oil projects in Uganda, such as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). In August 2024, 72 human rights defenders and local community members were arrested for protesting these projects. On August 26, 21 activists were arrested while marching to submit a petition against EACOP. Earlier, on August 9, 47 students were arrested during a peaceful protest, with two students, Kalyango Shafik and Oundo Humphrey, charged with « inciting violence. » They were released on bond, requiring them to report to the police as needed.
Since May 2024, 81 peaceful protesters have been arrested for opposing large-scale oil projects, with reports of torture, judicial harassment, and intimidation of environmental defenders. These arrests highlight the escalating repression in Uganda. Since 2020, numerous cases of legal harassment and threats against those defending human and environmental rights in the context of oil project development have been documented.
The social and environmental impacts of oil projects like EACOP have been widely criticised by civil society, affected communities, and organisations such as FIDH. Concerns include the well-being of local populations and biodiversity in Uganda and Tanzania. As governments and private actors continue to push for project financing, protests and repression are likely to grow, necessitating urgent action from civil society to address these critical issues.
