Uganda

How Uganda’s diaspora is fighting for freedom ahead of 2026

As Uganda’s 2026 presidential elections are drawing closer, it is imperative to closely scrutinise the role of the diaspora and their renaissance in reflection on Uganda’s political terrain. Diaspora contribution to Uganda doesn’t only come in terms of financial support but also through political and social engagement. Many Ugandans escape to South Africa and other parts of the world in pursuit of greener pastures and pursuits of freedom to secure refuge in democracies due to the unfavourable and poor economic and political state of their mother land and once they gain the opportunity for activism and expression of their voices, they stifle to fight against the injustices back home.

The diaspora has worked tirelessly to push for freedoms in Uganda and gain the support of the international communities.  Activists abroad have taken up the mantle using their proximity to international power and allies to maintain pressure on the government back home. On the recent visit of President Robert Kyagulanyi to South Africa on July 2025,he garnered more support from various civil societies, media outlets and the diaspora as a whole in the fight to overthrow the dictator Museveni. 

Diaspora activists play a key role in continued picketing demanding their host governments to pressure the oppressive regime on issues of human rights and reforms as well as taxing them to cut financial aid as well as  implementing democratic and human rights reforms. This is also done through protesting against visiting dignitaries. The NUP SA chapter has continuously held protests and submitted petitions to the South African authorities,British high commission and American embassy cautioning them on the plight of Ugandans at the hands of the oppressive regime and against acting as enablers of human rights abuses to the people of Uganda for example NUP activits delivered a petition on 05/5/2025 against human rights abuses in Uganda to the British High Commission in Pretoria.

On 3rd May 2025, the NUP chapter SA in Cape Town South Africa demonstrated against acts of brutality, kidnappings, illegal incarcerations subjected to Ugandans by Museveni and his son.  The Diaspora also plays a role in spreading awareness about regime atrocities by publicising information that regimes seek to repress through various media outlets globally. This helps overcome isolation and open the eyes of the public to events that remain heavily censored providing an alternative to the regime’s restrictions and bans over information. Diasporans are using avenues like Twitter,TikTok, YouTube vlogs and Facebook lives among others to banter the dictator and share information across the world despite media and internet restrictions in Uganda. South Africa as a chapter has done this through the Official NUP chapter SA channels, vlogers and TikTokers.

President Robert Kyagulanyi while on his visit in July 2025 used media outlets to show the world the decadence and rot happening in Uganda. He was hosted by Newzroom Africa to throw more light to the basic human rights abuses in Uganda and the plight of Ugandans in South Africa. The diaspora has notably impacted financially since time immemorial to political parties in Uganda in the contest of changing power over years. Currently the diaspora immensely contributes through remittances and donations and fundraising for the effective running of the country and opposition in order to overthrow the dictator. The diaspora is currently engaging in the fundraising drive for the 2026 elections. By 2021-2022 Uganda’s diaspora contributed usd1.8billion to Uganda’s GDP in such a shaky maladministered economy,imagine a transparent and accountable regime in charge!

Ugandan immigrants and expatriates all over the world crave to come back home to build their beloved country under working structures, stable economy and a government that cares for its people. In the midst of all this, we can’t fail to recognise the role of businesses in the fight of freedom and repressive government. Businesses can advocate for structural reforms. We urge businesses to exert economic pressure by divesting from repressive regimes, reducing investment or boycotting goods and services which to create financial strain on the government. Instead of businesses supporting the barbaric government they can push for social and political change by turning against policies that oppress people,staging strikes and participating in acts of civil disobedience together with the people in the struggle to release Uganda from the clutches of the oppressor.

As the country prepares for the upcoming 2026 general elections, President Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu launched the “protest vote.”  A form of referendum where people’s ideologies  and choices will be reflected in a vote for the first time something that hasn’t happened for the past 60 years! For people to know that democracy still exists under “one man one vote.”A path to restore the dignity of our people and revive all that was lost and stolen in the hands of the Junta.  We are going for a protest vote not because we do not know about the possible results derived from the electoral fraud like it has been happening for the past years but because we have to stand up to be counted as those that stood up against the injustices that have always happened during elections.

We are participating to protest against the entitlement that the oppressive government has and how they would want the results to look like through malpractice and brutalising our people! The protest vote advocates for a new democratic Uganda that is accountable to its people. It is time for citizens to fight for electoral integrity and oust dictatorship, a transition of power from an autocratic and illegitimate regime to an accountable and democratic system of governance with ethical leadership. It’s objective is for the power of the people to; vote, to tight mark/protect their votes and fight for transparent and fair elections.  The diaspora is calling for free and fair elections free from military interference, stuffing of ballots, kidnapping & battering of electoral officers and voters and stealing of ballot boxes!

The 2021 elections were characterised by intense rigging and extreme violence where hundreds of Ugandans were extrajudicially killed by Ugandan security forces while thousands were illegally arrested, kidnapped and tortured by Museveni’s operatives.  This time round the protest vote is seen as the “cry to freedom”. Ugandans should demonstrate their dissatisfaction with Uganda’s poor governance engrossed in  corruption & embezzlement, poor service delivery, illegal arrests, murders,tortures,Kidnaps and poor sustainable living. National Unity Platform aims to achieve good governance,accountability, progressivism and sustainable livelihood like access to good health care, good infrastructures, good education, good sanitation and hygiene.

We want our people to  stop sharing ponds with cows and have clean water! We look forward to working with different advocates of democracy and good governance for example the governments of South Africa, Germany, United Kingdom,USA among others in our quest for democracy.  And it is in this regard that we hereby call for collective action to respond and prevent the further degradation of liberal democratic values and unlawful persecution of the people of Uganda. 

Richard Kamya National Unity Platform Coordinator South Africa.