Staff
Dennis Kitumba is one of hundreds of the youths who have found themselves targeted simply for supporting opposition politicians.
During the worst wave of repression in late October, security forces snatched youths like Kitumba off the streets, detaining them in harsh conditions, often in unknown cells, and denying them access to their families.
“I was taken without warning, held in places no one knew about, and subjected to torture that I cannot forget,” Kitumba said. “Even now, I can still feel the pain, but I cannot stay silent.”
Kitumba, now in Netherlands, spent a month then in detention following nationwide arrests linked to the December 2019 protests, during which he endured systematic torture and psychological torment.
Like some, he was released physically and emotionally scarred, but he has sincs remained outspoken against political instability and corruption under President Museveni’s regime.
Before sneaking out, he initially participated in youth rallies and used social media to call for reform, despite narrowly escaping arrest twice since his release. “I had close calls, but I refused to be silenced,” he said.
Kitumba’s experience mirrors that of many youth activists across the country and abroad.
Social media accounts from others arrested last year reveal horrific abuse: detainees were tortured, assaulted, and denied medical care.
Female protestors were isolated, beaten, thrown over furniture, and dragged through police corridors, one of the survivors stated.
Some youths have disappeared entirely, with fears that they may have died while in custody. Alarming reports back in 2019 suggested that some youths were also raped while detained.
“It’s terrifying to hear what my friends went through,” Kitumba said. “This is not just about me—it’s about all of us who want a safer, more just Uganda. We must speak up, even when it’s dangerous.”
Kitumba later adopted a lower profile to avoid further arrests before flying out last year in December, but his determination remains unwavering. “We have to be careful, but we cannot be silenced,” he said. “Even after everything, I believe in the power of youth. We are not just the future; we are the now.”
He added: “I remain strong, and still advocate for change back home. I am still in touch with my colleagues who are at the fore front of the struggle and come in to help in one way or another, I still believe that one day, one day we shall overcome this oppression.”
