Human rights activist and prominent lawyer Sam Muyizzi Mulindwa has raised concerns over Uganda’s political climate, describing the country as being at a “boiling point” while under a police state.
Speaking to Canary Mugume during Next Big Talk hosted by Next Radio on Saturday, Muyizzi stressed the regime’s heavy investment in controlling dissent and the urgent need for open dialogue.
“We’re at a boiling point, only that we’re a police state. The regime has invested a lot in controlling dissent,” he said.
Clarifying his political stance, he emphasized that he is not affiliated with any single party.
“I’m not an activist of the National Unity Platform. I’m a lawyer across the board and have been a lawyer at all political parties; right from the Reform Agenda.”
On the subject of dialogue, Muyizzi defended the willingness of the opposition to engage.
“Anyone who tells you that Kyagulanyi doesn’t want dialogue, then that person doesn’t really know him. Anyone who tells you NUP doesn’t dialogue, then they don’t know NUP. If you don’t study NUP and the decision makers in NUP, then you don’t know NUP,” he said.
As Uganda navigates the aftermath of the recent elections, calls for national dialogue continue to grow louder. Opposition leaders, including the National Unity Platform (NUP), have raised concerns over what they describe as a flawed electoral process, demanding reforms, accountability, and guarantees for political freedom.
These concerns have been amplified by the absence of former NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, who has been abroad on international engagements since the day after the polls.
Government officials, however, maintain that NUP is not under attack, though public skepticism remains high. Critics question whether proposed dialogues will result in tangible reforms or merely serve as symbolic gestures. Previous attempts at political negotiations have delivered mixed results, leaving many doubtful about prospects for genuine compromise.
Religious leaders and elder statespersons have publicly urged both government and opposition to prioritize national interests over partisan positions. Despite these interventions, little progress has been reported. The central question remains whether both sides are willing to create the conditions necessary for a sustainable resolution.
Quiet but intensive negotiations have reportedly been ongoing for weeks between NUP and the government to facilitate the safe return of Bobi Wine from abroad. NUP, however, has denied that any formal talks have taken place.
As Uganda waits for clear signals from its political actors, dialogue remains both a hopeful prospect and an uncertain path to address post-election tensions.
