Trump Administration Pushes for Immediate Release of Kizza Besigye

President Trump displays a stack of papers labelled "The White House Accomplishments" during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday./Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

The United States has intensified pressure on Uganda following its January 15, 2026, general elections, with senior U.S. lawmakers calling for the immediate release of opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and human rights activist Dr. Sarah Bireete.

In a joint statement issued on January 23, 2026, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Cory Booker, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, sharply criticised the conduct of the Ugandan polls, describing them as a setback to democratic progress in the country.

The senators said the elections followed a familiar pattern in Uganda, where the political environment was heavily skewed in favour of the incumbent, with outcomes effectively determined before voting day.

They cited widespread rights violations in the lead-up to the polls, including attacks on journalists, arrests and detention of opposition figures, violent dispersal of peaceful assemblies, alleged abductions of opposition supporters, and the use of force by security agencies.

“It is imperative that opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye and human rights activist Dr. Sarah Bireete are released from jail immediately and the operating permits for civil society organizations are restored,” the statement read.

The lawmakers also condemned the nationwide internet shutdown imposed shortly before voting, saying it violated Ugandans’ constitutional rights to freedom of expression and access to information.

Particular concern was raised over statements attributed to Uganda’s Minister of Defence, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, whom the senators accused of issuing repeated threats against opposition figures, including Bobi Wine.

“We are particularly concerned by Ugandan Minister of Defense Kainerugaba’s continued threats against opposition figures including Bobi Wine,” the statement read.

The lawmakers urged Ugandan authorities to meet their obligations to democracy, transparency, and respect for human rights, warning that continued repression would further isolate the country internationally.

They also called on the Trump Administration and the U.S. State Department to take concrete action, including reviewing U.S. security assistance to Uganda, to hold individuals responsible for undermining democratic processes and endangering citizens seeking to participate freely in elections.

The statement marks one of the strongest responses from Washington following Uganda’s latest elections and signals potential diplomatic and policy consequences if concerns raised by the U.S. are not addressed.