A new citizen manifesto: which way, Uganda?

What the report says

The Observer publishes a viewpoint arguing that Uganda should reject what it describes as a false choice between military-backed succession and political collapse. The piece says the country needs a constitutional, citizen-led transition based on popular sovereignty, accountable institutions and the rule of law, rather than arrangements shaped by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU).

The article places Uganda’s current tensions in historical context, citing past episodes of military intervention and political upheaval, including the 1966 overthrow of the 1962 settlement, Idi Amin’s 1971 coup and the 1986 armed takeover. It also refers to regional examples such as Libya, Sudan and Somalia, arguing that their crises should not be used to justify submission to coercive power. The author says Uganda’s own history shows the danger of turning the military into a political arbiter.

A major concern in the piece is the claim that partisan mobilisation of serving security personnel undermines Article 208 of the 1995 Constitution, which requires the army to be national, professional, disciplined and non-partisan. The article says allegations linked to the 2026 elections, including reported violence and ballot stuffing mentioned in Odrek Rwabwogo’s account, should be independently investigated. It also notes calls by Ugandan scholars and activists for broader national dialogue, saying any durable settlement must rest on citizens’ consent rather than elite bargaining.