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Political Prisoners Project

Home Political Prisoners Project

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 individuals—ranging from journalists Politicians, and student leaders to human rights defenders and opposition supporters—are 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.

UGANDA -

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 Museveni’s 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.

UGANDA -

Zaidi Mohammed

Zaidi Mohammed, a boda boda rider and outspoken supporter of the National Unity Platform (NUP), was abducted on May 27, 2025, from his stage on Kampala Road in Butabika, Nakawa. Eyewitnesses say five men and one woman in civilian clothes, all armed, forced him into a white Toyota Noah (plate UBM 996E) and sped off toward Lugogo bypass.

Zaidi was known for his vocal support of the opposition and is feared to be the latest victim in a wave of politically motivated abductions. His current whereabouts remain unknown.

UGANDA -

Noah Mutwe

Noah Mutwe was violently abducted from his home in Gombe by unidentified men traveling in a numberless double-cabin vehicle, in what observers say is part of an escalating campaign of intimidation against government critics.

The abductors first seized Mutwe’s uncle, handcuffed him, and forced him to lead them to Mutwe’s residence. There, they forcibly removed Mutwe from his home and drove him to an undisclosed location. His whereabouts remain unknown.

UGANDA -

Ssebudde Kassim

Political activist Ssebudde Kassim was released after over two weeks in incommunicado detention, during which he was severely tortured. He was dumped near Namboole Stadium in the dead of night, physically weak and under threat not to speak about his ordeal.

Kassim was abducted alongside Bobi Wine’s Chief Civillian Body Guard Eddie Mutwe, with whom he was separated shortly after arrest. His case, like many others, involves no formal charges or legal process — a hallmark of Uganda’s rising use of enforced disappearances to stifle dissent.

UGANDA -

Abed Nasser Mudiobole

Human rights lawyer and opposition figure Abed Nasser Mudiobole was abducted by armed men in Kyaliwajjala, a Kampala suburb. Witnesses say he was lured to a meeting, held at gunpoint, and forced into a drone van — a vehicle associated with Uganda’s political abductions. His whereabouts remain unknown.

Mudiobole had attended a strategy meeting at National Unity Platform headquarters with other Eastern Uganda leaders to discuss youth elections. His disappearance has sparked condemnation from the Uganda Law Society and civil society groups, who view it as part of a broader crackdown on opposition voices and legal defenders. He joins a growing list of Ugandans targeted for their political engagement, as fears rise over enforced disappearances and impunity.

TANZANIA -

Tundu Lisu

Tundu Lissu is Tanzania’s leading opposition figure and chairman of CHADEMA, the country’s main opposition party. A lawyer and former Member of Parliament, Lissu is known for his outspoken criticism of the ruling CCM party. In 2017, he survived an assassination attempt after being shot 16 times, undergoing over 20 surgeries in Kenya and Belgium. Despite his injuries, Lissu returned to politics, challenging President John Magufuli in the 2020 elections. In January 2025, he defeated Freeman Mbowe to become CHADEMA’s chairman. He is now leading the “No Reforms, No Elections” campaign ahead of this year’s elections. Lissu was recently arrested in Mbinga District and has been charged with treason.

SOUTH SUDAN -

Dr. Riek Machar

Dr. Riek Machar is the First Vice President of South Sudan and the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO). A key figure in South Sudan’s turbulent path to independence and peace, Machar has long been at the center of efforts to end the country’s cycles of civil war and political fragmentation. In March 2025, Dr. Machar was forcibly placed under house arrest by government forces loyal to President Salva Kiir, accused of “agitating rebellion” and undermining peace. The move followed renewed tensions and clashes between SPLM-IO troops and government forces, particularly in Nasir County. His detention—executed without due process—violates the 2018 peace agreement that brought him into a fragile power-sharing government. It is widely seen as a politically motivated crackdown aimed at weakening opposition and consolidating authoritarian rule in Juba. Despite international condemnation, Machar remains confined, cut off from political activity and engagement with his supporters. His arrest threatens to unravel years of peacebuilding and risks dragging South Sudan back into full-scale conflict.

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UGANDA -

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 trial—an 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 state’s 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 courts—a practice at odds with both Ugandan and international law.

UGANDA -

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 Uganda’s many forgotten victims of military injustice.

UGANDA -

Yasin Ssekitoleko (Machete)

Yasin Ssekitoleko, known to many by his nickname “Machete,” is a 28-year-old husband and father to a four-year-old daughter. His life took a tragic turn in 2021, shortly after President Museveni’s swearing-in, when he was arrested and thrown into prison—a fate that has persisted with no end in sight. When the crackdown on dissenters began, Yasin went into hiding. He was eventually found and arrested in Kamengo after plainclothes security agents searched the homes of his relatives and friends. Witnesses recall that the men initially asked for someone named “Machete.” When denied, they returned moments later asking for “Yasin” by his real name—indicating that someone in the vehicle was feeding them live intelligence. He was eventually captured at his brother’s house, just a short distance away. Yasin is among the many political prisoners languishing in detention without formal charges. His incarceration has devastated his family. His wife and daughter continue to suffer in his absence, clinging to hope in the face of a broken justice system. In protest of the injustice, Yasin recently staged a hunger strike following a Supreme Court ruling that civilians should not be tried in military courts. Despite this legal victory, Yasin remains imprisoned—his freedom stifled, and his future uncertain. He is yet another face in the long list of victims denied due process in Uganda's ongoing repression of political dissent.
UGANDA -

Edward Ssebufu (Eddie Mutwe)

Edward Ssebufu, better known as Eddie Mutwe, is the chief bodyguard to opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine). He was abducted by armed men in Mukono just days before a planned NUP press conference in April 2025, according to reports.

Mutwe has faced several arrests before, charged with crimes like treason and illegal possession of ammunition—charges the opposition says are politically motivated. His disappearance has raised serious fears about torture and mistreatment, similar to what other Bobi Wine’s bodyguards like Achilleo Kivumbi and Gaddafi Mugumya have suffered.

UGANDA -

Achileo Kivumbi

Achileo Kivumbi, a civilian bodyguard to opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), is among several National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters facing criminal charges in Uganda. Kivumbi was arrested in May 2024 after attending a funeral in Lwengo District. Authorities accuse him of assaulting journalists and stealing a mobile phone and cash. They claim he led the attack with knives and sticks. However, his lawyer denies the charges, calling them exaggerated and politically motivated. Kivumbi says he was tortured during his arrest, raising fresh concerns about the treatment of opposition supporters under President Yoweri Museveni’s government.

UGANDA -

Gaddafi Mugumya

Gaddafi Mugumya, another civilian bodyguard for Bobi Wine and a supporter of the National Unity Platform (NUP), was arrested alongside Achilleo Kivumbi and Grace Wakabi Smart after the May 2024 funeral in Lwengo District. He faces charges of robbery and damaging property. Mugumya denies the accusations, and his lawyer says the charges are politically motivated. Mugumya has reported chest and back pain from mistreatment during his arrest. His story highlights the growing crackdown on NUP supporters by security forces.

UGANDA -

Grace Wakabi Smart

Grace Wakabi Smart, also known as Smart-wa Bobi, is a civilian bodyguard for opposition leader Bobi Wine and a committed supporter of the National Unity Platform (NUP). He was arrested with Achilleo Kivumbi and Gaddafi Mugumya after the funeral in Lwengo District and charged with robbery and malicious damage. Wakabi denies the charges. His lawyers say the case is politically driven. Reports say he was abducted and mistreated during detention, showing the wider pattern of repression facing opposition supporters in Uganda.

UGANDA - TikToker

Fred Mugaga

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 Magistrate’s Court. 
UGANDA - TikToker

Muwase Patrick

Muwase Patrick, a 21-year-old cattle trader from Nansana, was arrested at home on the eve of President Museveni’s 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 aspirations—he 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 beliefs—no formal charges, no fair trial, and no consideration of the lives their absence affects. Patrick’s 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.

UGANDA - TikToker

Kabahuma Milka

Kabahuma Milka, a student from Bugema University, was arrested during a peaceful protest calling for the release of political prisoners. Young, passionate, and driven by a deep sense of justice, Milka joined the protest not as a politician, but as a concerned citizen raising her voice against the unlawful detention of others. Her participation in the protest led to her own arrest—an ironic and tragic twist that reflects the shrinking space for civic engagement in Uganda. She is now one of the many political detainees held without trial or formal charges, simply for exercising her constitutional right to peaceful assembly. Milka’s detention has disrupted her education, her future plans, and her family’s hopes for a better life. Like many young women across the country, she represents the courage and resilience of a generation that refuses to remain silent in the face of injustice. Her story reminds us that no one is safe in a system where speaking out can cost you your freedom. 
UGANDA - TikToker

Julius Tayebwa

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 Magistrate’s Court under Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis.

UGANDA - TikToker

Noah Wasswa

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 Magistrate’s Court.

UGANDA - TikToker

Emmanuel Nabugodi

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 Magistrate’s Court. 
UGANDA - TikToker

Isaiah Ssekagiri

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. 
UGANDA - TikToker

David Ssengozi

David Ssengozi, a young businessman from Nansana, Wakiso District, was arrested on November 8, 2024, after posting a video deemed offensive to General Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The prosecution alleges that referring to Muhoozi as “walking like a slaughtered pig” constitutes hate speech and malicious information. Ssengozi remains in custody awaiting the outcome of his trial at Entebbe Magistrate’s Court.

UGANDA - TikToker

Edward Awebwa

Edward Awebwa, 24, was detained on July 9, 2024, for managing a TikTok account dubbed “Save Media Uganda,” 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.

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