Uganda: Arbitrary arrest and pre-trial detention of eight environmental rights defenders

New information
UGA 006 / 0126 / OBS 065.1
Judicial harassment /
Arbitrary detention
Uganda
26 January 2026

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Uganda.

New information:

The Observatory has been informed about the latest judicial developments regarding the bail applications of eight young environmental and climate justice defenders, namely Mses Dorothy Asio, Teopisita Nakyabande and Shammy Nalwadda, and Messrs Noah Katiti, Akram Katende, Ismail Zziwa, Shafik Kalyango, and Ali Keisha. These eight defenders are among a group of 12 environmental activists who were initially arrested on 1 August 2025. Of those defenders, four were released in November 2025 after pleading guilty but their charges remain. The defenders are students from universities in Kampala and Wakiso Districts, and members and part of the Students Against EACOP Uganda movement, which opposes the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a major project by TotalEnergies that threatens the ecosystem, wildlife existence, and local communities’ rights.

On 6 January 2026, the bail application of the above-mentioned eight activists was heard by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court. Once again, the magistrate ruled that the matter was at an “advanced stage” and could only ensure an expeditious hearing of the defense. The hearings were initially adjourned to 14 and 16 January 2026, the latter of which was declared a public holiday to accommodate the national general elections. On 14 January, the case was adjourned for a second time to 19 January.

However, on 19 January, we were informed that the activists had not been brought to court. The newly assigned magistrate further adjourned the case again to 12 February 2026 at 11:00, citing this as the earliest available date. A warrant was also issued for the detainees. The activists will therefore be detained until this date.

The Observatory further recalls that on on 1 August 2025, the activists were arrested during a peaceful protest in front of Stanbic Bank Head Office, Kampala, holding placards and banners with the words “Stop EACOP Uganda”. They were charged under Section 65(e) of the Road Act Cap. 346 for “nuisance on roads” and remanded to Luzira Maximum Security Prison, where eight of them remain detained at the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal.

The Observatory recalls that all previous bail applications were denied by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on 18 August, 5 September, 1 October, and 16 October 2025. The court justified the denials on the grounds that some of the activists were repeat protestors and that the proceedings were already at an « advanced stage ».

These incidents illustrate a persistent pattern of harassment targeting those opposing EACOP and defending environmental and human rights. Environmental rights defenders in Uganda have, in recent years, repeatedly faced arbitrary arrests, judicial harassment, and torture. For example, on 9 August 2024, 47 students were arrested in Kampala during a peaceful protest against the EACOP project. Between May and June 2024, environmental activists like Adriko Sostein, Julius Tumwiine, and Stephen Kwikiriza were arrested and arbitrarily detained, as well as Bob Barigye, Noah Katiiti, Newton Mwesigwa, Julius Byaruhanga, Desire Ndyamwesigwa, Raymond Binntukwanga, and Jealousy Mugisha Mulimbwa. Lawyer Eron Kiiza, known for his advocacy for environmental protection and rule of law, has also been targeted and detained. In April 2025, 11 environmental defenders, known as #KCB11 were arbitrarily arrested and detained following a peaceful protest denouncing the Kenyan Commercial Bank’s decision to fund EACOP. In October 2024, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders sent a letter to the Ugandan government, raising concern about the increasing harassment of activists opposing the EACOP, particularly Students for Global Democracy.

These arbitrary arrests and detentions, and acts of judicial harassment, are part of a persistent and intensive repressive trend - especially ahead of the general elections held on 15 January 2026 - targeting environmental and human rights defenders and affected communities in the context of oil development projects in Uganda. This highlights a broader pattern of silencing and undermining the fundamental freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression guaranteed under Article 29 of the Constitution of Uganda and Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The Observatory strongly condemns the continued judicial harassment and the ongoing pre-trial arbitrary detention of the above-mentioned eight young climate rights defenders since 1 August 2025, which appears to be an act of reprisal for their legitimate human rights activities.

The Observatory urges the Ugandan authorities to ensure their immediate and unconditional release, and put an end to any act of harassment, including at the judicial level, against them and all the human rights defenders in Uganda. The Observatory also urges the Ugandan authorities to respect the rights of the defense as recognised by international instruments and to guarantee to the 12 climate rights defenders an impartial and independent trial.

Actions requested:

Please write to the Ugandan authorities urging them to:

1. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical integrity and psychological well-being of the eight detained defenders, Dorothy Asio, Teopisita Nakyabande, Shammy Nalwadda, Noah Katiti, Akram Katende, Ismail Zziwa, Shafik Kalyango, and Ali Keisha, and all human rights defenders in Uganda ;
2. Immediately and unconditionally release the eight activists, as their detention appears solely aimed at restricting their freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, and at hindering their legitimate human rights activities;
   
3. Drop all the charges and put an end to any act of harassment, including at the judicial level, against the 12 activists initially arrested and all climate rights defenders, and more broadly all human rights defenders in Uganda;
4. Ensure strict respect for fundamental freedoms, and in particular guarantee in all circumstances respect of the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression as guaranteed by international human rights law, in particular by Article 19 and 21 of the ICCPR, to which Uganda is party;
   
5. Ensure that human rights defenders in Uganda are able to carry out their legitimate activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all undue restrictions, including arbitrary detention, torture, or other sanctions.

Addresses:

• Mr Kaguta Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, E-mail: museveni@starcom.co.ug / aak@statehouse.go.ug, X: @KagutaMuseveni
• Ms Robinah Nabbanja, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda, Email: ps@opm.go.ug, X: @RobinahNabbanja
• Mr Jeje Odongo Abubakher, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, X: @UgandaMFA
• Hon. Norbert Mao, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of Uganda, Email: info@jlos.go.ug / info@justice.go.ug
• Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Attorney General of Uganda, Email: info@jlos.go.ug / info@justice.go.ug
  
• Ms Jane Frances Abodo, Director of Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of Uganda, Email: admin@dpp.go.ug
• Ms Mariam Fauzat Wangadya, Chairperson, Uganda Human Rights Commission, Email: uhrc@uhrc.ug
• H.E. Mr. Marcel Robert Tibaleka, Permanent Mission of Uganda to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Email: chancery@ugandamission.ch
• H.E. Mirjam Blaak Sow, Embassy of Uganda to the EU in Brussels, Belgium. Email: ugembrus@brutele.be, info@ugandamission-benelux.org

Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Uganda in your respective countries.

***
Paris-Geneva, 26 January 2026

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society.

To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
• E-mail: alert@observatoryfordefenders.org
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