Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Uganda on alleged attacks on (a) freedom of speech and (b) members of the opposition in that country.

The UK Government is concerned about restrictions placed on freedom of expression and the treatment of opposition candidates and their supporters in the run-up to and since the Ugandan elections. In my post-election statement, I urged the Government of Uganda to meet its human rights commitments and to respect the right of freedom of speech for all Ugandans. I have raised my concerns over the treatment of the opposition, including the reports of missing persons and arbitrary detention with the then Ugandan Foreign Minister, Sam Kutesa, on 21 April 2021 and with the Ugandan High Commissioner on 16 June, and urged the Government of Uganda to solve these issues swiftly.

The UK, along with 17 members of the Media Freedom Coalition, issued a statement in the week of the election expressing concern about the situation for journalists and media freedom in Uganda. We called for the Ugandan authorities to investigate attacks on the press and hold those responsible to account, ensuring that journalists are provided with the necessary protections, accreditation, and access that they need to do their jobs. As a long-standing partner to Uganda, the UK will continue to press for the rights of all Ugandans to be upheld.