EU envoys call for level playing field in 2026 polls

KAMPALA - The European Union (EU) delegation to Uganda has called for a level playing field for all political parties ahead of the 2026 general elections. 

Jan Sadek, the EU ambassador to Uganda, told the media Monday (April 12) that the playing field is currently not level. 

This followed a closed-door meeting with the top leadership of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party at their headquarters in Kampala. 

Sadek said, together with the NUP leadership, they discussed the current state of affairs in Uganda and how this might affect next year’s elections. 

“We have seen this year that there has been some violence in the Kawempe North by-election, and we have discussed and expressed our concern about that, as well as the kind of interventions by the security forces against team members of the NUP president. This doesn’t seem to point to the levelled playing field which is so important in a democracy that is heading for elections,” he said. 

Sadek explained that they will hold a series of meetings with all political parties ahead of the 2026 elections. 

He noted that they started with the ruling National Resistance Movement party on March 17 this year.

“We will proceed with other political parties. We are doing this because Uganda is heading for elections next year; it is an important process for the democracy in the country. We expect all Ugandans to take great interest in this. We, as diplomats and active observers, follow closely what is happening in this country,” the ambassador said.

Sadek noted that engagement of the EU with other political parties should not be taken as being biased, because the EU takes pleasure in wanting to understand how political parties work.

NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi said, in their meeting, they raised concerns about the abuse of human rights in Uganda. (Credit: Simon Peter Tumwine)

NUP's call 

The ambassador spoke to journalists, alongside NUP leaders led by party president Robert Kyagulanyi, who described the meeting as productive. 

Kyagulanyi was flanked by Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, NUP secretary general David Rubongoya, party vice-president Muwanga Kivumbi and party chief whip John Baptist Nambeshe, among others. 

He said, in their meeting, they raised concerns about the abuse of human rights in Uganda. 

“We took the opportunity to also raise our concerns,” Kyagulanyi said, adding that among them was the diplomats’ relationship with the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. 

He also said they appealed to the EU delegation to raise their voices against the incarceration of his head of security, Edward Ssebufu aka Eddie Mutwe. 

Ssebufu was recently charged with six counts of robbery and assault by the Masaka Magistrates’ Court, following his alleged abduction by security operatives from Mukono district on April 27, this year. 

He was taken into the magistrate’s chambers for a closed-door session attended only by his lawyer Magellan Kazibwe, and state attorney, Michael Wakosesa, where charges were read to him.

Other NUP inmates in Masaka 

The charge sheet indicates that Ssebufu will be tried with three other members of Kyagulanyi’s security team; Achilleo Kivumbi, Grace Wakabi (also known as Smart wa Bobi), and Gadafi Mugumya, who were charged in February and are currently on remand at Masaka Central Prison.