East Africa’s Dangerous Climate for Political Dissent

By RICHARD KIZZA LUGOBWA

LONDON. East African states, often praised for their economic potential and regional cooperation, are increasingly creating hostile environments for political dissent.

Governments in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya—despite their democratic pretenses—have perfected tactics of repression, ranging from trumped-up charges and enforced disappearances to brutal crackdowns on opposition voices.

The region’s leaders appear to be taking cues from one another, creating a disturbing pattern where dissent is met with state-sanctioned violence, legal persecution, and media suppression.

In Tanzania, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, initially welcomed as a breath of fresh air after the authoritarian rule of John Magufuli, has shown that political repression remains deeply entrenched.

Opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt in 2017, returned from exile only to face fresh politically motivated charges.

Accusations of sedition and incitement have been slapped against him, ahead of the October 2025 Presidential elections, mirroring the tactics once used to silence critics under Magufuli.

In a twist of events, leading Kenyan lawyer and the country’s former Justice Minister Martha Karua, and leader of the People’s Liberation Party along with fellow Kenyan lawyer Gloria Kimani and human rights campaigner Lynn Ngugi travelled to Tanzania to represent Tundu Lissu in a treason case on Monday.

Upon arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport Karua was detained for several hours. Karua said that she was subjected to “hours of unwarranted interrogation”, before being deported.

In Uganda, Karua was initially denied permission to represent Kizza Besigye’s in his treason case. She was later cleared after securing a work permit.

The same ordeal happened to Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire who travelled to Tanzania to attend Tindu Lissu’s trial on Monday as a gesture of solidarity.

Atuhaire was arrested by Tanzanian authorities and held incommunicado for days until Thursday found when she was found at the Uganda-Tanzanian border with indications of torture.

On Monday, President Samia Suluhu warned that she would not allow apologists from neighboring countries to “meddle” in her country’s affairs and cause “chaos”.

Meanwhile, journalists like Erick Kabendera have been arbitrarily detained, and activists such as Maria Sarungi face relentless intimidation. The message is clear: in Tanzania, challenging the government comes with severe risks.

Uganda, under Yoweri Museveni’s nearly four-decade rule, serves as the blueprint for repression in the region.

The regime’s brutality against opposition figures is well-documented. During the 2021 elections, National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Bobi Wine was arrested, tortured, and placed under house arrest, while his supporters were abducted, tortured, and in some cases, killed.

State sanctioned violence is gradually becoming a new-normal. Since 2024 when General Muhoozi Kaneirugaba, also president’s son was appointed Commander of Defense Forces, the notorious “drones”—a euphemism for security operatives who abduct activists—have become a symbol of state terror. Political dissent is viewed as a crime.

The military now takes center stage in the political affairs of the country, which abrogates the constitution. Muhoozi through his X posts continues to brag about this and vows to crush the opposition just as his father Museveni.

Victims like John Bosco Kibalama, Kanatta Muhammad and dozens of NUP supporters have disappeared into unmarked vans, only to resurface days or weeks later with harrowing tales of abuse and torture.

Museveni’s government has also weaponized the law, passing draconian legislation such as the UPDF amendment bill (awaiting Museveni’s signature to take force), the Anti-Homosexuality Act, to further marginalize and criminalize dissent.

Kenya, often regarded as East Africa’s most stable democracy, is not immune to this trend. President William Ruto, who campaigned as a reformer, has overseen a government that continues to suppress opposition voices.

The abductions of bloggers like Shadrack Kiprono, who criticized the administration, echo Uganda’s enforced disappearances.

The 2023 anti-tax protests were met with live ammunition, leaving at least 23 dead—a stark reminder that Kenya’s security forces operate with impunity. The legacy of extrajudicial killings, exemplified by the murder of human rights lawyer Willie Kimani in 2016, remains unresolved, reinforcing the fear that challenging the state can be fatal.

Across the region, governments have enacted laws designed to stifle free expression intending to put a permanent lid on dissent. Tanzania’s Cybercrime Act, Uganda’s Public Order Management Act, and Kenya’s proposed “Fake News” bill all serve the same purpose: to criminalize dissent under the guise of maintaining order.

Media freedom is under siege—from Uganda’s raid on Nation Media Group in 2018 to Tanzania’s banning of Mseto newspaper. Independent journalists operate in constant fear, knowing that critical reporting could lead to arrest or worse.

The African Union and international partners often turn a blind eye to these abuses, prioritizing regional stability over human rights.

Western governments, while occasionally issuing statements of concern, continue to engage with these regimes on trade and security cooperation, sending a tacit message that repression carries no real consequences.

East Africa’s political landscape is becoming a graveyard for dissent, where opposition figures and their supporters, journalists, and activists risk everything to speak out.

The methods may differ slightly—whether it’s Uganda’s abductions, Tanzania’s legal harassment, or Kenya’s violent crackdowns—but the outcome is the same: a climate of fear where democracy exists in name only. If this trend continues unchecked, the region’s future will be one of silenced voices and unchallenged authoritarianism.

The writer is an advocate for democracy and justice through the arts, media and other platforms
Email: richardlk63@gmail.com
Tel: +447351353725