SUNTV Global Channel | January 17, 2026 | Abuja
A Nigerian civic advocacy group, the Take-It-Back Movement, has strongly condemned what it described as widespread state repression, militarisation of the electoral process, and alleged electoral fraud in Uganda, warning that the country’s democracy is facing a grave and unprecedented threat.
In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by its National Coordinator, Sanyaolu Juwon, the movement said it was “deeply alarmed” by unfolding events surrounding Uganda’s presidential election, accusing authorities of using force and intimidation to undermine the will of the people.
The group said it “unequivocally condemns the ongoing militarisation of Uganda’s electoral process and the brazen assault on democracy, fundamental freedoms, and human rights under the guise of an election.”
The statement followed reports by Ugandan opposition leader and presidential candidate, Bobi Wine, who revealed that his home in Magere was raided overnight by security forces in the midst of post-election tension.
According to the Take-It-Back Movement, Wine’s account raised serious concerns about the conduct of state authorities during the electoral period and exposed what it described as a systematic crackdown on opposition voices.
“We are gravely alarmed by the chilling account released by Ugandan presidential candidate and opposition leader, Bobi Wine, detailing a violent night raid on his home in Magere by combined forces of the military and police,” the group said.
It noted that reports of electricity being cut off, CCTV cameras disabled, helicopters deployed for aerial surveillance, and members of Wine’s family placed under effective house arrest were incompatible with democratic governance.
“The cutting off of electricity, disabling of CCTV cameras, aerial surveillance by helicopters, and the effective house arrest of his family are not the actions of a democratic state, but the hallmarks of a rogue regime terrified of the will of its people,” the statement added.
The movement further described as disturbing the fact that a presidential candidate was allegedly forced into hiding for his safety, while his family members remained confined in their home.
“That a presidential candidate is forced into hiding for his life while his family remains under siege exposes the complete collapse of democratic norms in Uganda,” it said.
The group also condemned the nationwide internet shutdown, describing it as a deliberate attempt to silence citizens, restrict the flow of information, and prevent accountability during a critical democratic exercise.
Rejecting the credibility of the electoral process, the Take-It-Back Movement said it did not recognise the results being announced by Uganda’s Electoral Commission.
“We categorically reject the so-called election results being announced under conditions of military occupation, ballot stuffing, mass arrests of opposition figures, and the exclusion of lawful polling agents,” the statement read.
It added that such results “have no legitimacy, no credibility, and no moral authority.”
The movement also condemned reports of killings of unarmed citizens during post-election protests, insisting that the right of citizens to protest and freely choose their leaders remains fundamental.
“The right of the people to protest and to freely choose their leaders is non-negotiable and cannot be extinguished by bullets, batons, or brute force,” it said.
According to the group, authorities were also accused of systematically targeting candidates of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and allegedly overturning opposition victories in several constituencies, describing the situation as “a direct attack on popular sovereignty.”
Placing Uganda’s crisis within a broader continental context, the Take-It-Back Movement said the developments reflected a recurring African pattern of “stolen elections, weaponised security forces, silenced media, and criminalised dissent.”
The statement ended with a call for decisive international intervention.
“The Take It Back Movement stands in unwavering solidarity with Bobi Wine, the NUP, and the people of Uganda,” it said, urging the African Union and the wider international community “to move beyond empty statements and take firm, principled action against electoral repression and state violence.”
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor developments surrounding Uganda’s election and regional responses to the growing political crisis.
