KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda is witnessing a tightening grip on civil liberties under the leadership of Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of long-time president Yoweri Museveni, as authorities increasingly deploy advanced surveillance technologies and security measures to suppress dissent. The current environment has been described by activists and observers as a regime marked by repression and intimidation.
In recent months, incidents such as the forceful removal of a radio commentator midbroadcast, the fatal attack on an opposition activist whose home was reportedly set ablaze during a police siege, and the forced closure of a major independent media outlet have drawn attention to the deteriorating state of press freedom and opposition rights in the country.
Surveillance capabilities in Uganda have expanded significantly, incorporating technologies sourced from several foreign countries. Chinese artificial intelligence-powered cameras and facial recognition systems monitor public spaces, while Russian radio frequency chips are embedded in vehicle license plates to enable real-time tracking. Additionally, Israeli spyware has been deployed to access private phone contents. These tools collectively create a pervasive surveillance infrastructure that activists say is designed to stifle free expression and political opposition.
The spread of such authoritarian practices reflects a broader trend across Africa, where only 10 percent of the population lives in countries classified as “free” according to a 2026 report by Freedom House, a figure surpassed only by the situation in the Middle East. China’s growing economic and political engagement on the continent has played a notable role, with African governments investing at least $2 billion in Chinese surveillance technology as part of wider cooperation agreements. These technologies, originally developed for internal political control in China, have been repurposed to suppress dissent elsewhere.
Western companies from the United States, Europe, and other regions have also supplied surveillance tools to African regimes. Experts argue that the decline in vocal criticism from the United States, particularly since President Donald Trump’s administration deprioritized human rights advocacy in favor of economic ties, has emboldened Uganda’s government. According to civil society leaders in Kampala, international silence has created a permissive atmosphere for increased repression.
Job Kijja, head of Innovations for Democratic Engagement and Action, a civil society group operating under severe restrictions, described the personal risks faced by activists opposing the regime. Kijja reported receiving threatening messages and expressed concern over whether to publish critical reports on recent elections that extended Museveni’s rule. He emphasized the dangers of relying on international legal mechanisms or diplomatic support, describing them as increasingly unreliable.
One of the most prominent victims of the current crackdown is Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, a Ugandan lawyer and novelist whose political satire about dictatorship led to repeated detentions and torture. Rukirabashaija recounted brutal beatings and psychological intimidation, including two visits by General Kainerugaba in detention during which the general recorded humiliating and coercive encounters on his phone. After escaping to Germany in 2022, Rukirabashaija received classified documents detailing the extent of state surveillance and legal persecution aimed at silencing him.
The developments in Uganda highlight a shift in the global balance of power regarding governance norms. The country’s experience exemplifies how authoritarian leaders can leverage new technologies and declining international pressure to consolidate control, raising urgent questions about the future of political freedoms in Africa and beyond.