Martha Karua, the leader of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), has raised urgent concerns regarding the alarming reports of sexual violence against women in Uganda following the January 2026 elections. In a statement addressed to President Yoweri Museveni and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, she underscores the gravity of the situation.
In her message, shared on X on February 8, 2026, Karua emphasized that the issue transcends Uganda, impacting the entire region and the world. She advocates for the protection of women’s dignity and safety, insisting that those accountable for these acts must face justice. Framing her words as an open letter to Uganda’s leadership, she calls for a collective response to this crisis.
“This letter serves as a direct appeal to President Yoweri Museveni, the president of Uganda and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and General Muhoozi, the chief of defence forces,” she articulated.
Karua characterizes the situation as a pressing issue of continental and global significance, highlighting a pervasive pattern of violence against women.
“This represents a clarion call from Africa and the world against the systematic sexual violence and assaults on women’s dignity in Uganda. We, the women of the Jumuia and the African region, who stand as advocates for justice globally, express our profound shock and shared grief through this letter,” she declared.
She further asserts that these abuses extend beyond Uganda, constituting an affront to human dignity everywhere.
“The atrocities inflicted upon the women of Uganda do not merely reflect a national crisis; they represent direct assaults on the universal dignity that unites all decent human beings across the globe,” she stated.
Karua describes the current circumstances as a dark moment in history, marking a significant setback for human rights in the aftermath of the January elections.
“We stand at a dark chapter for humanity. The horrors that have emerged following the January 2026 election signify a catastrophic regression in human rights,” she lamented.
She accuses security forces of employing sexual violence and humiliation as tools for political retribution.
“We have observed with dismay as security forces, operating under state command, have weaponized sexual violence, humiliation, and terror, particularly targeting the women of Uganda to settle political scores,” she remarked.
Karua warns that violations of women’s privacy and bodies threaten the very soul of a nation and the region as a whole.
“When a woman’s privacy is invaded, and her body is treated as a battleground, the soul of a nation—and, by extension, our region—is in jeopardy,” she asserted.
The PLP leader highlights the heightened risks women encounter during periods of political transition and elections, urging for immediate attention and action.
