In a resolution adopted on Thursday 12 February with 514 votes in favour, 3 against and 56 abstentions, MEPs strongly condemned the conduct of the elections in Uganda on Thursday 15 January. They denounce abuses, widespread intimidation, fraud and violence, as well as the cutting off of Internet access.
The MEPs expressed their concern at the suspension of civil society organisations and at the serious threats and acts of intimidation targeting opposition figures, in particular the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and presidential candidate, former reggae singer Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, and the doctor Kizza Besigye, a long-standing opponent.
The European Parliament calls for their immediate and unconditional release, as well as that of all those arbitrarily detained, and also condemns the murder of Mesach Okello, a supporter of the NUP.
Finally, MEPs urge the Ugandan authorities to stop using military trials against civilians and to undertake electoral and institutional reforms.
Link to the resolution adopted by Parliament: https://aeur.eu/f/kpm (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)