EU envoys call for level playing field in 2026 elections

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

Jan Sadek, the EU ambassador to Uganda, told the media on Monday (May 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.

European Union delegation in a meeting with the top leadership of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party at their headquarters in Kampala. (Photo by Simon Peter Tumwine)

Sadek said that, 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 byelection, 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.

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

Jan Sadek, the head of the European Union delegation having a chat with Robert Kyagulanyi, the National Unity Platform (NUP) party president at the NUP head offices in Makerere Kavule. (Photo by Simon Peter Tumwine)

Sadek said they started with the ruling National Resistance Movement party on March 17, 2025.

“We will proceed also 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 very closely what is happening in this country,” he said.

NUP calls

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

Kyagulanyi said that in their meeting with the EU delegation, they raised concerns about the abuse of human rights in Uganda.

“It was a productive conversation. We took the opportunity to also raise our concerns about the seeming hobnobbing of the diplomats with [President Yoweri] Museveni’s son [Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba] and we expressed our concern that the people of Uganda tend to view it as a support to their oppression,” he said.

Jan Sadek, the head of the European Union delegation having a chat with Robert Kyagulanyi, the National Unity Platform (NUP) party president at the NUP head offices in Makerere Kavule. (Photo by Simon Peter Tumwine)

He also said they appealed to the EU delegation to raise their voices against the incarceration of his civilian bodyguard, Edward Ssebufu, also known as Eddie Mutwe, to ensure he receives urgent specialised treatment.

Mutwe 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, 2025.

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.

National Unity Platform (NUP) officials and the European Delegation posing for a photo moment shortly after a meeting at the NUP head offices in Makerere Kavule. (Photo by Simon Peter Tumwine)

The charge sheet indicates that Mutwe will be tried alongside 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.

They are accused of assaulting journalists during the burial of UK-based businessman Pascal Ssekasamba in May last year, including damaging a video camera belonging to Zainabu Namusaazi of Next Media Group and destroying a smartphone belonging to Radio Simba correspondent Margret Kayondo.