In recent weeks, many of you have reached out with concern following the attack on my home in Entebbe. The threats on my life and family began after I spoke out against injustices, including arresting journalists, detaining dissidents, and shutting down the internet prior to Uganda’s recent elections.
What occurred on the 17th, 18th, and 19th of January at my home left many activists, civil society leaders, media, and journalists threatened. 65 military men, both in uniform and civilian clothes, with guns, surrounded my home and refused to let anyone inside.
Thankfully, we had stockpiled enough food in the days prior, so no one had to leave and face the soldiers. I managed to escape from the home on the 19th of January by jumping over the wall into my neighbour’s garden. On 20th January, the military men were withdrawn at the order of the local police chief after discovering that I had fled. The following day, my wife and our children were able to flee our family home and head to a safer location.
This experience of a siege on our home and our life left me and my family apart as we all sought safety. Yet beyond the personal dimension, it also reflected a larger reality familiar to many human rights defenders and freedom advocates in Uganda. The work of defending freedom and accountability is not without cost.
For years, my advocacy has focused on promoting economic freedom, protecting civil society, amplifying the voices of traders and ordinary citizens, promoting media freedom, and strengthening property rights. As an African libertarian, I have believed and continue to believe that Uganda will flourish when human dignity is respected, institutions are accountable, and citizens can speak up without fear.
This was a testing moment where many people advised me to surrender to the military. But with many civil society activists and opposition leaders missing or detained without trial, I felt I could not take that risk. I worked to make my case to the media so that the community could understand my innocence.
For a long time, my human rights work has ultimately been about safeguarding the space for peaceful expression, lawful engagement, and responsible leadership. When that space is threatened, I am reminded that courage is not loud; it is consistent. It is the quiet decision to remain grounded, to respect the law, and to continue advocating within peaceful and lawful frameworks.
I am encouraged that calm has returned. I am back home with my family in Entebbe, grateful for the prayers from neighbours and many friends worldwide. Daily life is stabilising, and our staff at ALED have resumed work, fully committed to promoting a free and prosperous Uganda. My hope still remains in educating citizens, particularly young people, to understand the beauty of freedom, individual liberty, and limited government. If there is anything this experience has strengthened, it may resolve to defend the principles of freedom, justice, and free speech from criminal acts of the state.
I am deeply grateful for the solidarity shown by colleagues, friends, and partners, including the IATP. Your support was a powerful reminder that the defence of rights is never an individual endeavour. It is collective. It is sustained by shared values and mutual encouragement.
The work of advancing freedom and protecting dignity remains worth it in Uganda. Thank you for standing with my family and me.
John Mugabi is the Co-Founder and Director of Action for Liberty and Economic Development (ALED) and an IATP Fellow.
If you would like to support ALED you can contact info@aledafrica.org to make a donation.
In recent weeks, many of you have reached out with concern following the attack on my home in Entebbe. The threats on my life and family began after I spoke out against injustices, including arresting journalists, detaining dissidents, and shutting down the internet prior to Uganda’s recent elections.
What occurred on the 17th, 18th, and 19th of January at my home left many activists, civil society leaders, media, and journalists threatened. 65 military men, both in uniform and civilian clothes, with guns, surrounded my home and refused to let anyone inside.
Thankfully, we had stockpiled enough food in the days prior, so no one had to leave and face the soldiers. I managed to escape from the home on the 19th of January by jumping over the wall into my neighbour’s garden. On 20th January, the military men were withdrawn at the order of the local police chief after discovering that I had fled. The following day, my wife and our children were able to flee our family home and head to a safer location.
This experience of a siege on our home and our life left me and my family apart as we all sought safety. Yet beyond the personal dimension, it also reflected a larger reality familiar to many human rights defenders and freedom advocates in Uganda. The work of defending freedom and accountability is not without cost.
For years, my advocacy has focused on promoting economic freedom, protecting civil society, amplifying the voices of traders and ordinary citizens, promoting media freedom, and strengthening property rights. As an African libertarian, I have believed and continue to believe that Uganda will flourish when human dignity is respected, institutions are accountable, and citizens can speak up without fear.
This was a testing moment where many people advised me to surrender to the military. But with many civil society activists and opposition leaders missing or detained without trial, I felt I could not take that risk. I worked to make my case to the media so that the community could understand my innocence.
For a long time, my human rights work has ultimately been about safeguarding the space for peaceful expression, lawful engagement, and responsible leadership. When that space is threatened, I am reminded that courage is not loud; it is consistent. It is the quiet decision to remain grounded, to respect the law, and to continue advocating within peaceful and lawful frameworks.
I am encouraged that calm has returned. I am back home with my family in Entebbe, grateful for the prayers from neighbours and many friends worldwide. Daily life is stabilising, and our staff at ALED have resumed work, fully committed to promoting a free and prosperous Uganda. My hope still remains in educating citizens, particularly young people, to understand the beauty of freedom, individual liberty, and limited government. If there is anything this experience has strengthened, it may resolve to defend the principles of freedom, justice, and free speech from criminal acts of the state.
I am deeply grateful for the solidarity shown by colleagues, friends, and partners, including the IATP. Your support was a powerful reminder that the defence of rights is never an individual endeavour. It is collective. It is sustained by shared values and mutual encouragement.
The work of advancing freedom and protecting dignity remains worth it in Uganda. Thank you for standing with my family and me.
John Mugabi is the Co-Founder and Director of Action for Liberty and Economic Development (ALED) and an IATP Fellow.
If you would like to support ALED you can contact info@aledafrica.org to make a donation.
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