By Musa Mulimira
Uganda’s political climate has become increasingly dangerous for opposition supporters, with reports of intimidation, arrests, and forced disappearances. While activists and politicians often flee the country to escape persecution, their families left behind face relentless harassment. In this report, Nakabugo Shamim, the wife of an exiled opposition mobilizer, shares her experience of being targeted because of her husband’s political affiliation.
Kampala, Uganda — The Cost of Political Dissent
When Nakabugo Shamim married Mulumba Ssemakula, she never imagined his political activities would one day turn their lives upside down. Mulumba, a mobilizer for Uganda’s National Unity Platform (NUP), was forced to flee to Canada in March 2023, fearing for his safety. But while he found refuge abroad, Shamim and their children were left behind to face the consequences.
Since his departure, she has endured persistent threats, harassment, and intimidation from unknown individuals she believes are linked to the Ugandan security forces.
“I never thought politics would affect my life this way,” she says. “We were just a normal family. He believed in change, but I didn’t think that would make us a target.”
A Campaign of Harassment and Fear
Shamim recalls how the intimidation began subtly—strangers watching her home, unknown individuals asking about her husband in the neighborhood, and friends distancing themselves. However, the situation escalated rapidly.
“One night, I woke up to loud banging at my door. It was past midnight, and my children were asleep. When I opened, three men stood there. They weren’t in uniform, but I could tell who they were,” she recounts.
One of the men immediately demanded to know where her husband was. When she told them she didn’t know, one of them grabbed her by the arm and whispered, ‘If you don’t bring him back, you will pay for him.’
Her six-year-old son, frightened by the commotion, stood in the hallway, crying as he watched his mother being threatened.
“They laughed at him,” she says. “That was the moment I realized they wanted to break us.”
Since that night, Shamim’s fears have only grown. She has received threatening phone calls, noticed men following her in public, and experienced multiple attempts to intimidate her into silence.
Violence and Pressure on Family Members
The threats soon turned physical. In February 2024, Shamim was attacked while walking home.
“Two men on a boda boda stopped in front of me. One of them smirked and said, ‘Tell your husband we are waiting for him.’ Then he pushed me so hard that I fell on the ground,” she says.
Her groceries were left scattered in the street as the men sped away. Since then, she has stopped going out alone.
Her family members have also been affected. In January 2024, her younger brother was stopped and questioned by unknown men.
“They told him to tell me to cooperate or else. He was so scared he disappeared for days,” she says.
Even her parents, once a source of support, have started urging her to leave Uganda.
“They are afraid. They know what happens to families of opposition members.”
A Broader Pattern of Repression
Shamim’s experience is not unique. Over the past few years, Uganda has faced increasing criticism for its treatment of opposition supporters and their families. Security forces have been accused of using illegal detentions, torture, and enforced disappearances to silence dissent.
While activists like Mulumba manage to escape, their families become easy targets, facing ongoing surveillance, harassment, and social isolation.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly called on the Ugandan government to stop persecuting opposition supporters and their relatives. However, many cases remain unresolved, and victims continue to live in fear.
Living Under Constant Threat
Despite the daily uncertainty, Shamim refuses to leave her home.
“I don’t know what will happen next, but my children deserve to live without fear. They shouldn’t have to hide under tables every time someone knocks on the door.”
As our conversation ends, she glances at the door and lowers her voice:
“They will come again. I don’t know when, but I know they will.”
For now, Shamim remains trapped in a battle she never chose, caught in the crossfire of a political struggle that has left her family fractured and vulnerable.
