Political Prisoners Project is an advocacy and documentation initiative by Agora that seeks to identify, profile, and support individuals unjustly detained for their political beliefs, activism, or expressions of dissent in Uganda and in East Africa. These individualsâranging from journalists Politicians, and student leaders to human rights defenders and opposition supportersâare often incarcerated under vague or politically motivated charges such as inciting violence, treason, or terrorism and Hate Speech. This project aims to shine a spotlight on these prisoners through verified storytelling, digital campaigns, legal support linkages, and international advocacy. Through humanizing the statistics and amplifying the voices of those behind bars, Political Prisoners Project seeks to foster public empathy, mobilize local and international solidarity, and pressure state institutions to respect civil liberties and uphold justice. The initiative will also work closely with families of the incarcerated, civil society networks, and pro bono legal actors to monitor trials, provide psychosocial support, and push for fair legal redress and eventual release. At its core, Political Prisoners Project is a moral and civic call to action: No one should be imprisoned for believing, thinking, or speaking differently.
Dr. Kizza Besigye
Veteran Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, 68, has been charged with treason in a civilian court following his dramatic abduction from Kenya in November 2024 and subsequent detention in Uganda. Once President Museveniâs personal physician and a four-time presidential challenger, Besigye is accused of plotting to overthrow the government through meetings held in Switzerland, Greece, and Kenya, where he allegedly solicited military and financial support. The charges, which follow a landmark Supreme Court ruling declaring the trial of civilians in military courts unconstitutional, come after years of political persecution that have seen Besigye arrested over 100 times. His recent hunger strike and frail court appearance have reignited concerns over his health and treatment in detention. Despite being less politically active in recent years, Besigye remains a potent symbol of resistance in Uganda, with human rights groups calling his prosecution another attempt to silence dissent in an increasingly authoritarian regime.
Eron Kiiza
Eron Kiiza, a prominent Ugandan human rights lawyer known for representing opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, was sentenced to nine months in prison on 7 January 2025 after a military court summarily convicted him of contempt. The conviction followed a chaotic court session in which soldiers blocked Kiiza from accessing the defense bar, prompting him to protest by shouting and banging on the courtroom barricade. He was then violently assaulted, dragged into the dock, and convicted without trialâan incident widely condemned by human rights groups as a blatant attack on the legal profession and the rule of law. Detained incommunicado and tortured while in custody, Kiiza sustained serious injuries including a broken finger and head trauma. His case has become emblematic of the increasing crackdown on lawyers, activists, and political opponents in Uganda, and exposes the stateâs misuse of military courts to silence dissent. Rights organizations and legal experts have called for his immediate release and urged the Supreme Court to rule against the unconstitutional trial of civilians in military courtsâa practice at odds with both Ugandan and international law.
Brightish Daniels Mazinga Juuko
Brightish Daniels Mazinga Juuko, a former university lecturer and outspoken critic of the Ugandan regime, became a political prisoner after a brazen cross-border abduction in late 2022. Lured to Nairobi under the pretense of delivering a lecture, he was instead kidnapped, secretly transported back to Uganda, and held incommunicado by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) for eleven months. During his detention, he endured daily interrogations without trial or access to legal counsel. He was eventually brought before a military court martial in Makindye without a lawyer, family presence, or any form of support, and was subsequently remanded to Kitalya Prison, where he remains to this day. His only scheduled court appearance since then, in February 2024, ended without him ever seeing a judge. Juuko now languishes in prison, uncertain of when or if he will ever appear in court again, having lost hope of release. His harrowing story, first brought to light by human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza, underscores the plight of Ugandaâs many forgotten victims of military injustice.
Yasin Ssekitoleko (Machete)
Fred Mugaga, a 26-year-old welder from Nakiwogo in Entebbe, was arrested on July 8, 2025, over alleged hate speech in a TikTok video targeting President Museveni and his family. Though the exact content of the video remains undisclosed, the prosecution claims it was degrading and inflammatory. Mugaga is among several digital content creators now facing criminal charges at the Entebbe Magistrateâs Court.
Muwase Patrick, a 21-year-old cattle trader from Nansana, was arrested at home on the eve of President Museveniâs swearing-in. His only crime is supporting the National Unity Platform (NUP) and helping to organize their campaign. Like many young Ugandans driven by hope for change, Patrick was politically engaged and working alongside his brother, Haruna Ziraba, in the cattle trade to sustain their family. Patrick was more than just a youth with political aspirationsâhe was a pillar of support at home. He contributed to the family income and played a vital role in caring for his parents. His sudden and unexplained arrest has left a painful vacuum, cutting short both his economic contributions and his personal dreams. His case mirrors the plight of many Ugandans detained for their political beliefsâno formal charges, no fair trial, and no consideration of the lives their absence affects. Patrickâs imprisonment has not only disrupted his future but shattered the stability of a family that relied heavily on him. He remains one of the countless young voices silenced by political repression, reminding us of the heavy toll exacted on families by Uganda’s shrinking civic space.
Julius Tayebwa, a 19-year-old self-employed youth from Kirungi Cell in Mubende District, has been detained since November 8, 2024. Arrested over a TikTok video criticizing President Yoweri Museveni, Tayebwa is accused of hate speech and spreading malicious information. In the video, he allegedly used harsh language to describe the president and questioned the government’s response to victims of the Kiteezi landfill tragedy. His case is being heard at the Entebbe Magistrateâs Court under Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis.
Noah Wasswa, 19, from Lugazi Town Council, was arrested on December 3, 2024, after sharing a TikTok video in which he allegedly mocked General Muhoozi Kainerugaba through a metaphor involving a mosquito and testicles. Authorities claim the video constitutes hate speech and malicious communication. Wasswa remains in detention as his case proceeds at Entebbe Magistrateâs Court.
Emmanuel Nabugodi, a 21-year-old unemployed resident of Mbale, was taken into custody on November 17, 2024, for posting a satirical video portraying a mock trial of an unnamed president in what he described as a “dog nation.” Prosecutors allege the content was intended to malign President Museveni. Nabugodi is charged with malicious information and is currently facing trial at the Entebbe Magistrateâs Court.
Isaiah Ssekagiri, a 28-year-old businessman from Gimbo, Wakiso District, has been in detention since November 8, 2024. His arrest followed a TikTok video where he allegedly condemned the jailing of dissenters and likened travel restrictions to journeys to the “land of the dead.” He is charged with hate speech and malicious communication targeting President Museveni. His case is also before Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis in Entebbe.
Edward Awebwa, 24, was detained on July 9, 2024, for managing a TikTok account dubbed âSave Media Uganda,â which allegedly published content critical of President Museveni and his son, General Muhoozi. He faces charges of spreading malicious information and remains behind bars as his case proceeds before Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis in Entebbe.