UgandaToday: Martha Karua, Regional Leaders Condemn Violence Against Ugandan Women, Calls for Urgent Action
By Uganda Today
NAIROBI | February 9, 2026 — Kenyan opposition leader and President of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), Martha Karua, has led regional and international voices in condemning what she described as escalating and systematic violations against women in Uganda.
Karua addressed the press on February 8, 2026, at Mageuzi Hub in Nairobi, flanked by women of Jumuiya and global advocates for justice. The gathering denounced alleged acts of violence, intimidation, and public humiliation directed at women—particularly those associated with opposition politics and civic activism in Uganda.
VIDEO: Martha Karua Addresses the Press in Nairobi
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Watch Martha Karua and regional women leaders condemn alleged violence and intimidation against women in Uganda, calling for urgent regional and international action.
▶ Martha Karua addresses the press in Nairobi, condemning violence, intimidation, and alleged sexual abuse against women in Uganda.
[VIDEO EMBEDDED HERE – X/Twitter Player: ] https://x.com/i/status/2020542371671273839
Speaking during the briefing, Karua framed the situation in Uganda as a matter that transcends national boundaries.
“I stand with fellow regional leaders to decry violations that include brutal assaults, the humiliation of women political actors, and the use of sexual violence as a tool of political intimidation,” Karua said.
“What is happening in Uganda is not an internal matter; it is a regional and continental emergency that demands urgent action. For every suppressed voice, more emerge. These acts are atrocious and reprehensible, but they will not prevail.”
Allegations of Targeted Abuse
The leaders highlighted several incidents they say illustrate a troubling pattern of abuse allegedly involving state security operatives, particularly in the aftermath of Uganda’s recently concluded general election.
Among the cases cited was the alleged assault and public humiliation of Barbara Itungo Kyagulanyi, wife of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine). The incident, which has drawn widespread condemnation, was described by speakers as a grave violation of dignity and an example of how intimidation is increasingly directed at women connected to political dissent.
The briefing also referenced the reported mistreatment of other Ugandan women, including Dr. Zahara Nampewo, Doreen Kaija, Sauda Madada, and Olivia Lutaaya, whose experiences were presented as part of a broader pattern of harassment, intimidation, and degradation.
According to the speakers, these acts are not isolated events but reflect the growing use of fear and humiliation to silence women’s participation in public and political life.
Call for Accountability and Solidarity
Karua and the coalition called on regional bodies, including the East African Community (EAC), as well as continental and international institutions such as the African Union and the United Nations, to urgently intervene.
They demanded:
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Independent investigations into reported abuses
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Accountability for perpetrators
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Protection for women political actors and activists
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An end to impunity for gender-based violence
The leaders warned that failure to act would embolden further violations and undermine democratic norms across the region.
As the press conference concluded, Karua reaffirmed her solidarity with Ugandan women, stating that repression would not extinguish resistance.
“For every voice that is silenced, many more will rise,” she said.
Photo by Edward Kiplimo
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