The East Africa Law Society (EALS), alongside bar associations led by Faith Mony Odhiambo – President, Law Society of Kenya, Isaac Ssemakade – President, Uganda Law Society, Boniface Mwabukusi – President, Tanganyika Law Society,Moise Nkundabarashi – President, Rwanda Bar Association, Patrick Didier Nukuri – President, Burundi Bar Association, Joseph Shaaban Magazi – President, Zanzibar Law Society and Arop Malueth – President, South Sudan Bar Association have issued a grave statement condemning a resurgence of human rights violations across the East African region.
The society, led by EALS President Ramadhan M. Abubakar, highlighted the increasing prevalence of abductions, enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings targeting dissidents, political activists, journalists, and young protesters.
ULS president Isaac Ssemakadde
Kenya has seen a spike in such incidents since the Gen-Z-led demonstrations earlier this year, with over 82 reported abductions. Alarmingly, 29 abductees remain unaccounted for, including 13 cases reported in December alone.
Tanzania has faced similar challenges, with high-profile incidents such as the murder of opposition figure Ally Kibao, the abduction of opposition official Aisha Machano, and the acid attacks on political activists. In Uganda, the use of illegal “safe houses” for detaining and torturing critics is endemic, with enforced disappearances frequently employed as a tool of repression.
The statement also noted the rise of cross-border abductions, such as the recent arrest of opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye in Nairobi and his subsequent arraignment in a Ugandan court-martial.
The human rights crisis extends to Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia, where both state and non-state actors are implicated in violence against civilians.
The EALS emphasized that these actions contravene the Treaty Establishing the East African Community (EAC), which enshrines the principles of human rights and the rule of law. It also criticized EAC member states for failing to enforce international commitments, including the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The society called out governments for neglecting their obligations under international instruments, citing the lack of ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED) as a glaring omission.
The EALS outlined a series of urgent measures to address the crisis:
Immediate release of abductees and lawful handling of arrests.
End to cross-border abductions and establishment of joint investigative teams and legal frameworks.
Ratification of the ICPPED by all member states.
Security sector reforms with an emphasis on human rights training and accountability mechanisms.
Engagement with civil society to design strategies for addressing human rights violations.
High-level summit to adopt enforceable measures against abductions and extrajudicial killings.
Establishment of independent oversight bodies to investigate and prosecute perpetrators.
The EALS affirmed its commitment to protecting human rights and the rule of law across East Africa. It warned that failure by governments to act decisively would compel the society to take legal action and provide support to victims and their families.
“The region’s leaders must demonstrate leadership by taking immediate action to end these crimes,” the statement read.
As the human rights crisis intensifies, the EALS has vowed to stand as a watchdog and advocate for justice, ensuring that the voices of victims are heard and the rule of law upheld across the region.
