Renowned human rights activist and lawyer Atuhaire Agather has been arrested and is currently detained at Kampala Central Police Station.
She was apprehended on Thursday while protesting the recent sentencing of fellow lawyer Eron Kiiza by the General Court Martial.
Agather’s protest was centered on what she described as the unjust imprisonment of Kiiza and other individuals she referred to as “political prisoners.”
Kiiza, a prominent human rights defender, was sentenced by the military court earlier this week, sparking outrage among civil society organizations and legal practitioners who argue that his case highlights the shrinking space for dissent and the independence of the judiciary in Uganda.
Agather’s arrest adds to growing concerns about the targeting of activists and legal professionals advocating for justice and human rights.
Witnesses at the scene reported that she was holding a placard calling for the immediate release of political detainees when plainclothes officers arrested her and took her to the Kampala Central Police Station.
“The arrest of Atuhaire Agather is yet another indication of the increasing intolerance for peaceful protest and freedom of expression,” said a representative of the Uganda Human Rights Network. “Lawyers and activists play a crucial role in safeguarding the rights of citizens, and targeting them undermines the principles of justice and democracy.”
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding her arrest or the charges she may face.
This incident comes amid heightened tensions in Uganda’s political landscape, as critics accuse the government of using legal mechanisms to suppress opposition voices.
Civil society actors have called for urgent reforms to protect freedom of expression and ensure the independence of the judiciary.