The European Union Delegation, the Heads of Mission of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and UK, and the Heads of Mission of Norway and Iceland issue the following statement in Uganda.

The Heads of Mission are deeply concerned by the events that have occurred before and after the Arua Municipality by-election. The violence marring the day before the polls, the lack of accredited domestic observers, the reported brutal treatment of elected Members of the Uganda Parliament, journalists and civilians, as well as the loss of human life are very disquieting events. There is no room for repression nor violence in a modern democratic Uganda.

The Heads of Mission call upon all tiers of the Ugandan Government, political parties and civil society to cooperate to ensure that the events that have caused much suffering to citizens and have damaged the global image of Uganda are addressed swiftly and transparently with full respect for the Rule of Law, and of the individual
rights of all concerned.