Few people know what is going on in Uganda and how Ugandans are struggling under the harsh reality of a de facto military regime where there is no longer freedom of speech. It hasn’t hit the headlines like the military coup in Myanmar or the protests in Hong Kong have.

Ugandans feel forgotten and ignored.

They are crying out for the world to speak out on their behalf because they are unable to protest for themselves due to the security forces who are brutally quashing any dissenting voices.

Although there was no real monitoring of the recent Presidential Election by international observers, there is much evidence that the election on 14th January 2021, in which Museveni was once again re-elected after 35 years of being President,  was rigged.

Thousands of opposition supporters (the number is unknown) have already  “disappeared”, been kidnapped, arrested, detained without charge in prisons and other non-gazetted places, brought before military courts, brutally beaten, tortured and killed for as little as gathering at opposition rallies or speaking out or posting something on social media – or even wearing a red T-shirt, the colour of the main opposition party. The armed Police Force is also under the control of the Army.

Even if . . . .

• you never write letters to Members of Parliament because you think it makes no difference or they don’t bother to read them, or
• you avoid signing petitions because you don’t agree with them or don’t think they achieve anything, or
• you have no particular interest in Uganda, or
• you are weary because of being involved in so many other things ….

. . . . I am asking, just this once, if you would take one or more of the actions listed below – please.

None of us can make any impact on our own but together we can work with the people of Uganda to achieve real change in at least one country which has suffered so much in the past and has such potential.

These actions are NOT about supporting one politician or one political party against another but are about DEMOCRACY and PEACE, for the sake of ordinary people and their basic human rights and freedom.

As you may be aware, I am receiving desperate messages from friends in Uganda. One such message said (using her capital letters): “THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW THE TRUTH and COME and HELP.”

Please, please, please do at least one of the following:

• Click on this link (https://www.change.org/Human-Rights-Violations-in-UGANDA-2021) to add your name to the Change.org petition to the world’s leaders through Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN;
• Open the document entitled “Action for Uganda Feb 2021” and take as many of the actions listed as possible;
• If you are resident in the UK, use or adjust this sample letter to write to your MP;
• Read this Briefing Document for more detailed information about Uganda and the situation.

If everyone who reads this post would act in at least one way and then forward the link to at least ten more people who will act, and so on, we shall soon have thousands around the globe crying out on behalf of Ugandans who cannot speak out for themselves. This will hasten the return of democracy and peace to Uganda.

If you don’t live in the UK, you can at least sign the online Change.org petition and then also adapt the linked information above to suit your national procedures and circumstances.

If you would like to leave any comments, let me know how you have been able to help or raise any questions, please use this form. I will be pleased to hear from you.