Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations she has made to the Government of Uganda in relation to repeated restrictions on the freedoms of Robert Kyagulanyi.

The restrictions placed on Robert Kyagulanyi both before and during the January 2021 elections were very concerning. It is unacceptable that this pattern has continued post-election, including his de facto house arrest in December 2021 during a by-election. The UK has continuously called for the Government of Uganda to stop using such restrictions. I raised our concerns regarding restrictions on the opposition and civic space with President Museveni and Foreign Minister Odongo during my visit to Uganda on 19 January 2022. I stressed the importance of respecting democratic freedoms and ensuring that Uganda meets its obligations under international human rights law. Our High Commission in Kampala engages with stakeholders across the Ugandan political spectrum, including Robert Kyagulanyi, to push for democratic reform. The UK will continue to work with all Ugandans to advocate for democratic freedoms and respect for human rights.