Quash conviction of human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza

On January 7, Ugandan human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza was convicted of “contempt of court” and sentenced to nine months in prison by a military court in Kampala. His so-called “offense” was protesting when he was blocked from entering the military court section where his client, Dr. Kizza Besigye, was being arraigned.

Eron Kiiza spent 88 days in arbitrary detention before the High Court of Uganda granted him bail on April 4. During his arrest, and before being taken to detention, he was severely beaten and reportedly tortured by military personnel. He is still recovering from the physical and mental trauma of this abuse.

Eron Kiiza has appealed his conviction and is awaiting a decision.

Here’s what you can do:

Write to the President of Uganda urging the government to:

• Quash Eron Kiiza’s conviction as his prosecution in unfair proceedings stems solely from the exercise of his right to freedom of expression and his work as a lawyer.
• Ensure a prompt, independent, impartial, and effective investigation is carried out into Eron Kiiza’s allegations of torture and other ill-treatment.
• Bring those suspected of responsibility to account in fair trials, without recourse to the death penalty.

Who’s Eron Kiiza?

Eron Kiiza is a Ugandan human rights lawyer and environmental activist. He co-founded the law firm Kiiza & Mugisha Advocates and leads Environment Shield Limited, a grassroots group focused on climate, natural resources, and environmental justice as part of social justice.

Eron was one of the lawyers representing Dr. Kizza Besigye, a Ugandan opposition politician and former presidential candidate with the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). In early November 2024, Dr. Besigye was abducted in Nairobi, Kenya. He reappeared on November 20, 2024, when he was brought before a military court in Kampala, Uganda. He was charged alongside FDC member Haji Obeid Lutale with security-related offenses and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. Both men were sent to Luzira Maximum Security Prison as their trial proceeds.

Amnesty International has called for Dr. Besigye’s immediate release, as his abduction violated international human rights law and proper extradition procedures, which require fair trial protection.

Violations of Eron Kiiza’s rights

Eron Kiiza’s right to a fair trial was denied. The charges against him were never read to him. He was not allowed to enter a plea or present a defense. He was also denied the right to appoint a lawyer to represent him.

During his unlawful detention, Eron Kiiza’s health deteriorated quickly. Within just two weeks, he appeared weak and had lost a significant amount of weight.

Please take action as soon as possible until January 10, 2026. The UA will be duly updated should there be the need for further action.