Scholar and political commentator Jim Spire Ssentongo has warned security personnel accused of abducting and torturing citizens that they could eventually face accountability, saying some officials within the system are privately uncomfortable with the alleged abuses.
Ssentongo argued that opposition to alleged persecution and torture exists within Uganda’s government and security structures, including among senior officials in Cabinet and the army.
“There are many other people in the system who are not happy with what is going on,” Ssentongo said, referring to what he described as the persecution and torture of Ugandans and the creation of an atmosphere of fear.
He claimed that some individuals working within state institutions could eventually emerge as witnesses against people accused of carrying out abuses.
According to Ssentongo, the apparent silence of some officials should not necessarily be interpreted as acceptance of the alleged conduct, arguing that individuals working within oppressive systems can eventually reject actions they consider unacceptable.
His comments come amid continuing debate in Uganda over allegations of abductions, unlawful detention and mistreatment of opposition supporters and activists.
Similar allegations have previously been raised by activists and human rights groups, although security authorities have disputed or rejected some claims.
In July 2024, for example, activists petitioned the Uganda Human Rights Commission over allegations that protesters had been sexually assaulted and physically abused while in police custody.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke dismissed the claims at the time as false and unfounded and called for alleged victims to report the matter for investigation.
Ssentongo further claimed that some soldiers involved in alleged abductions and torture could themselves be struggling with the consequences of their actions.
He described a future in which those involved in alleged abuses could be called upon to account for their conduct, invoking the Nuremberg trials that followed the Second World War as an example of how individuals involved in state-sponsored atrocities can eventually face scrutiny.
“At some point, we will have a Nuremberg sort of Trial, and everything will come out,” he said.
Ssentongo urged those currently exercising authority to consider the possibility of future investigations and accountability before carrying out or endorsing actions against citizens.
“Nothing lasts forever, and people never forget the pains you take them through,” he said, warning that the experiences of victims could remain part of Uganda’s historical memory for generations.
Ssentongo is a Ugandan academic, columnist and activist known for commentary on governance, accountability and human rights.
His activism has included campaigns highlighting alleged corruption and institutional failures in Uganda.