Opinion: The State’s Handling of NUP and What It Means for Democracy in Uganda, - Written by Mawa J. Collines

By Collines Jeremiah Mawa

9-9-2025.

Any patriotic citizen can see that the state of affairs in our country is deeply worrying. 

Every day we hear of abductions, especially of members of the National Unity Platform. This has become far too common, and far too accepted.

Nubian Lee joined the long list of NUP leaders and supporters who have been abducted, most likely tortured, and denied their rights. And yet, the State continues to justify these actions, often claiming that those taken are engaged in subversive activities. 

Whether these claims are true or not is a matter for the courts to determine, not for security operatives acting with impunity.

But history has taught us how the State peddles lies. Take the Arua Municipality by-election of 2018: we all remember how Bobi Wine was accused of possessing guns. The weapons were paraded before the media, and yet, in the end, those charges collapsed. To this day, no one has taken responsibility for that lie.

When we reflect on these events, it becomes clear that Uganda today resembles the dark days of Idi Amin. President Museveni often speaks proudly of fighting Amin, yet if he were to look honestly at his own government, he would see that many of the same abuses, arbitrary arrests, torture, abductions, are happening under his watch.

The most painful part, however, is how we as citizens have normalized these abuses. We hear of abductions and simply move on. It has become business as usual. But friends, silence has consequences. During the Second World War, someone said: When they came for the Jews, I did not speak up, because I wasn't a Jew. When they came for the others, I still kept quiet. And when they finally came for me, there was no one left to speak.

That is where Uganda is heading. Our silence today will cost us dearly tomorrow.

Ultimately, the choice is ours as Ugandans. Do we continue tolerating mistreatment, living in fear, and accepting injustice as normal? Or do we rise together, and demand a nation where justice, freedom, and democracy are not just words, but realities?

The future of this country is in our hands.

 _The writer is a candidate for Maracha East Constituency MP 2026 - 2031.