Many of those arrested face charges ranging from public nuisance and disobedience to obstruction and incitement of violence, and they reportedly remain in custody.
“It is deeply regrettable that election campaigns have once again been marked by widespread arbitrary arrests, detentions and the use of unnecessary or disproportionate force against the opposition, as well as undue restriction of press freedom,” said Türk.
Reports detail the deployment of heavily armed security forces at NUP rally locations.
Last week, security personnel reportedly used live ammunition in the eastern town of Iganga, resulting in the death of at least one person and injuries to at least three others.
Security forces have also employed tear gas, whips, batons, water cannon, and chemical irritants to disperse NUP supporters at rallies, injuring many people.
“I urge Ugandan authorities to cease the use of such repressive tactics to enable Ugandans to fully and peacefully exercise their right to participate in their country’s public affairs on election day, and in its aftermath,” Türk added.
The UN statement highlighted a steady increase in reports of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearance, torture, and other ill-treatment of opposition supporters over the past year.
Security forces are accused of using unmarked minibuses, known as “drones,” to transport people to unofficial detention sites, or “safe houses,” where they are held incommunicado—a practice that violates international law requiring detainees to be held only in officially acknowledged facilities.
The UN Human Rights Chief brought up a high-profile case from May, where the head of the military claimed on social media to be holding the bodyguard of the NUP leader in his “basement.”
Although the bodyguard was later presented in court, he was visibly shaking and showing other signs of physical torture, yet the court reportedly failed to react or initiate a thorough investigation.
Another recent case involved two Kenyan activists who were arbitrarily detained in Uganda after an opposition rally in October.
They were held incommunicado for over a month in what the Ugandan President allegedly referred to as “the fridge,” before being handed over to Kenyan authorities.
Dozens of other opposition supporters remain in detention in connection with political activities from the last general election, held more than four years ago.
“I urge the Ugandan authorities to fully and impartially investigate all allegations of enforced disappearance, arbitrary arrest and detention, and torture or ill treatment, punish those accountable and provide full reparation to the victims,” said Türk.
“I also call on them to end this pattern of repression. All individuals arbitrarily deprived of liberty should be released.”
The UN High Commissioner also expressed concern over the government’s failure to uphold the right to freedom of expression, citing multiple recent cases of press freedom restriction.
In October, journalists from NTV Uganda and The Daily Monitor newspaper had their accreditations to cover Parliament withdrawn, reportedly due to their critical reporting.
Additionally, at least 32 journalists and media workers were allegedly assaulted or had their equipment confiscated or damaged by security operatives during a parliamentary by-election in Kawempe North constituency in March.
“The Ugandan authorities must halt all violence against the media and the opposition and act fully in accordance with their obligations under international human rights law,” Türk concluded.