Bobi Wine Joins Global Human Rights Defenders In Washington To Demand Freedom For Political Prisoners

Uganda’s opposition leader reads out names of detained compatriots, including Dr. Kizza Besigye, Doreen Kajja and Waiswa Mufumbiro, during International Day of Political Prisoners commemorations at the Lincoln Memorial.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has joined human rights defenders from Uganda and other parts of the world in Washington, D.C., to call for the freedom of political prisoners and greater international attention to people who have died while in detention.

In a statement published on his official X account (@HEBobiwine), Kyagulanyi revealed that he participated in a solidarity gathering at the historic Lincoln Memorial, where human rights advocates assembled to remember political detainees and demand respect for fundamental freedoms.

The gathering was held in connection with the International Day of Political Prisoners, observed on October 30, and provided an opportunity for activists to draw international attention to individuals they consider to be unlawfully detained or persecuted because of their political beliefs and activities.

Ugandan Political Detainees Put In International Spotlight

One of the most significant aspects of Kyagulanyi’s participation was his decision to read out the names of Ugandans whose detention has attracted considerable public and political attention.

Among those he mentioned were:

• Dr. Kizza Besigye – veteran opposition politician and former presidential candidate.

• Ms. Kajja Doreen – identified by Kyagulanyi among the detained Ugandan comrades.

• Mr. Waiswa Mufumbiro – an opposition figure also named during the ceremony.

By publicly mentioning these individuals at an international gathering, Kyagulanyi sought to ensure that their cases remain visible beyond Uganda’s borders.

His message was not limited to demanding attention for detained political figures. He also called upon people who enjoy freedom around the world to defend the rights of political prisoners and extend support to their families, who often bear the emotional, social and economic consequences of detention.

The appeal also highlighted the importance of remembering individuals who have died in detention and ensuring that their circumstances are not forgotten.

October 30 Coalition And NED Lead International Campaign

The Washington gathering was organised by the October 30 Coalition in partnership with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

According to the organisers, the event, titled Roll Call For Freedom: A Ceremony Honouring Political Prisoners, was held on Friday, October 30, 2026, from 5pm to 7pm at the Lincoln Memorial.

The ceremony brought together human rights defenders, former political prisoners, civic leaders, families of detainees and other advocates from different parts of the world.

Former political prisoners Paul Rusesabagina of Rwanda and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara of Cuba were among those scheduled to share their experiences of imprisonment and release.

The programme also recognised individuals who had secured their freedom during the preceding year and remembered those who had died in forced detention.

The coalition brings together ten organisations, including Freedom House, the Human Rights Foundation, the McCain Institute, the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and the National Endowment for Democracy.

The organisers intend to make October 30 an important annual occasion for international solidarity, coordinated advocacy and efforts to secure the freedom of political prisoners.

Why October 30 Matters To The International Human Rights Community

The International Day of Political Prisoners has historical roots dating back to October 30, 1974, when Soviet dissidents Kronid Lyubarsky and Oleksii Murzhenko, together with other prisoners in a Soviet labour camp, staged a hunger strike to protest their treatment and demand recognition of their status as political prisoners.

The day has since become an occasion for remembering people imprisoned for exercising fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, association, religion and political participation.

In its joint statement, the October 30 Coalition and NED emphasised that political imprisonment affects not only the individuals behind bars but also their families, communities and societies.

The organisations called upon governments and citizens to keep individual cases in the public domain, demand answers from authorities, support legal and humanitarian assistance, and press for the release of people unjustly imprisoned.

The coalition’s statement also highlighted the need for accountability where violations of fundamental rights have occurred.

Bobi Wine Calls For Continued International Solidarity

In his X statement, Kyagulanyi expressed gratitude to the October 30 Coalition and NED for their work in raising awareness about political prisoners and advancing freedom worldwide.

His participation demonstrates how Uganda’s political and human rights concerns are increasingly being presented within international advocacy forums.

For Uganda, the significance of the Washington gathering lies in the renewed international attention given to the circumstances of opposition figures and other individuals whom political actors and human rights advocates identify as political detainees.

The question of political detention remains an important subject in discussions about constitutionalism, democratic governance, the independence of institutions and the protection of civil liberties.

Ultimately, the message Kyagulanyi carried to the Lincoln Memorial was a call for the international community not to forget those behind prison walls, their families or those who have lost their lives in detention.

His appeal, encapsulated in the hashtag #FreeAllPoliticalPrisonersInUganda, is a reminder that the protection of human rights should transcend political affiliations, national boundaries and ideological differences.

Source: Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (@HEBobiwine), official X account, statement published following the October 30, 2026, commemoration at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.

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