Exiled Voices Speak Out From Germany

Ugandans in Germany in a peaceful protest

On the streets of Germany, a quiet but powerful peaceful demonstration recently took place. Joined activists including John Solomon Nabuyanda , Bagile Sharif (Environmentalists) Kizito Enock, among others and fellow members of the Ugandan community, the protest was not just a cry for attention it was an act of survival. These were not only exiles far from home, but also human rights defenders determined to speak out against the injustices that continue to drive thousands of Ugandans into exile.

Life in Uganda has become increasingly dangerous for those who dare to dissent. Peaceful protesters are abducted and tortured, journalists face harassment, and civic activists are silenced. The introduction of laws such as the Anti-Homosexuality Act has placed entire communities at risk, forcing many to flee. For every headline, there is a person lawyers, teachers, health workers, mothers and students whose only “crime” was to speak, to exist, or to live authentically. Many now find themselves in Germany, seeking protection and dignity.

Ugandans in Germany holding Plea Cards in protest

Peaceful Protesters holding Plea cards in demostration

Kizito Enock and other protesters

The plight of Ugandan refugees is not without precedent in law. The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocolclearly protect individuals fleeing persecution on grounds of political opinion, religion, or membership in a particular social group.

Further, Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) affirms that everyone has the right to seek asylum from persecution. The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), to which Germany is bound, prohibits returning anyone to conditions where they may face torture or inhuman treatment. These frameworks are not abstract instruments; they are lifelines. For those standing in protest, they are the difference between life and death, between belonging and exclusion.

During their peaceful gathering, the protesters expressed gratitude to the German authorities for safeguarding their right to demonstrate a freedom too often denied in Uganda. But gratitude does not erase the challenges refugees face.

They called on Germany to:

• Accelerate asylum procedures, ensuring refugees are not left in prolonged uncertainty.

• Recognize and utilize professional skills of Ugandan refugees, many of whom are highly trained but remain underemployed.

• Improve living standards in line with obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which guarantees access to housing, health, and education.

Ugandan Human Rights Activists in a peaceful demonstration in Munich

This is not charity; it is a matter of justice and international responsibility.

What unfolded in Germany was not simply a protest. It was a plea for recognition, for safety, for dignity. It was a reminder that Uganda is not safe for many of its citizens, and until justice is restored, Ugandan voices abroad will continue to speak, march, and hope.

Their courage is a call to all of us: to uphold the principles of international law, to stand against repression, and to remember that behind every refugee case number is a human story of resilience.