When Protection Becomes Oppression
Across Uganda, too many young people live in fear—not of crime, but of the very forces meant to protect them. Police brutality, arbitrary arrests, harassment, and violence against youth are widespread—especially against those who speak out, organize, or simply look “suspicious.”
The Youth Are the Target
- Peaceful protests turned violent when police fired tear gas, rubber bullets, or live rounds
- Arbitrary arrests of youth activists, students, and community organizers
- Street harassment and extortion, especially of young vendors, boda riders, and slum youth
- Beatings in custody with no accountability
- Fear of speaking up, because even a social media post can get you arrested
“In Uganda, being young and outspoken is treated like a crime.”
Realities from the Ground
- Youth in ghettos and slums face constant intimidation from security forces
- Activist youth are followed, threatened, or blacklisted
- Those without political connections are denied justice
- Rural and uneducated youth often don’t even know their legal rights
Our Response: From Victims to Defenders
The National Youth Movement is building power, protection, and legal awareness among Uganda’s youth. We say: No more silence. No more fear.
We are:
- Training youth on their legal rights and how to record abuse
- Working with human rights lawyers to provide emergency legal aid
- Documenting and exposing police violence through media and testimony
- Advocating for peaceful protest rights and freedom of expression
- Standing with victims and families demanding justice
What We Want
- An end to arbitrary arrests and police harassment of youth
- Independent investigations into abuse cases—not internal cover-ups
- Real reform and civilian oversight of security forces
- Protection for all youth who engage in activism, organizing, or dissent
- Justice for those killed, beaten, or silenced by the system
“We are not enemies of the state—we are citizens of this nation. We have rights. We have voices. We will not be intimidated.”
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