Corona and Democracy - Uganda

On this page, we are collecting information on the effects of the measures taken to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus on democracy in Uganda.

Information on COVID-19 measures and democracy
Type of measures Measures & sources
Limitations to freedom of movement

   18 March:

  • The government imposed mandatory 14-day quarantine for Ugandans coming into the country from any one of 17 countries considered “high risk”. The quarantine must be paid by the citizens themselves.

   23 March:

  • The president announced the closure of the borders until further notice.

   25 March:

  • The president announced a 14-day ban on all public transportation, and private cars will be allowed to carry a maximum of three passengers (driver included).

   1 April:

  • The government enforced nationwide lockdown for 14 days. In addition, a curfew from 19:00 to 06:30 has been put in place. Private cars are also banned from the roads.

   8 April:

  • The government announced additional measures as banning of physical outdoor activity and the movement of all motorcycle taxis.

   14 April:

  • President Yoweri Museveni announced the extension of the nationwide lockdown until Tuesday 5 May. The current measures remained in place.

   4 May:

  • The government announced a 14-day extension to an ongoing nationwide lockdown and the easing of some restrictions (some businesses might open again). Public transport and most private vehicles would still remain prohibited.
Limitations to electoral rights
  • The president announced that the presidential election scheduled for March 2021 will be pushing to a later date yet to announced due to coronavirus. The public health (control of Covid-19) rules 2020 prohibits political gatherings including "rallies, conferences, elections" for 32 days.

3 April:

  • Special interests groups elections have been postponed

12 May:

  • President Museveni said that it would be wrong to hold presidential elections due early next year if the coronavirus persists

16 June:

  • Uganda to hold elections in early 2021, however, campaigns rallies will be banned
Limitation to civil rights
  • Ugandans and travellers coming into the country must spend the quarantine in hotel rooms, which are often too expensive for them. People unable to pay the hotel fees have been forced to sleep in the lobby of the hotel, while others have been stranded at the airport. Travellers report lack of health and hygiene standards.
  • Ugandan police charged 20 LGBT+ people with disobeying rules on social distancing, they face up to 7 years imprisonment. Activists report that police is using the situation and the restrictions to target sexual minorities. On 12 May, the court allowed lawyers to visit LGBT+ Ugandans jailed over coronavirus.
  • Several reports emerged of police and security personnel beating Ugandans in order to enforce the measures adopted by the government. Charged have been made against police officers for torturing women in enforcing the lockdown. The government has also closed public court hearings due to the crisis.
  • Activists and health workers reported that the private car ban endangering the lives of expectant mothers and those in medical emergencies by requiring that all seek permission to secure transportation to hospitals.

18 May:

  • Ugandan police detained Stella Nyanzi, a prominent academic, who protested the lockdown measures
Risks to data security  
 
Limitations to freedom of information
  • An independent journalist was accused of making Facebook posts encouraging people to disobey the government’s anti-coronavirus measures, risking the spread of the infection. A growing number of journalists, authors and online critics of President Museveni have also been targeted and charged with offences.

July 10:

  • Uganda cracks down on media ahead of 2021 elections amid ongoing coronavirus pandemic
Emergency powers for government
  •  The government did not declare the state of emergency yet.
 
Corona laws - full text
Various  
 
Last updated on 04.08.2020

Please note that we are constantly updating the information under rapidly changing circumstances, the information on this page should not be taken to be a complete overview of measures in a country. 

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