Uganda Declares Bobi Wine’s Lawyers ‘Persona Non Grata’ Amid Escalating International Confrontation
KAMPALA, February 3, 2026 – The Ugandan government has taken the drastic step of declaring two prominent international lawyers persona non grata, banning them from the country, in a sharp escalation of its confrontation with critics following disputed elections and allegations of severe repression.
The move targets Robert Amsterdam, founder of Amsterdam & Partners LLP, and his colleague Jeffrey T. Smith. A high-level Ugandan government source, speaking anonymously, accused the pair of “direct and unlawful interference in Uganda’s internal affairs,” “supporting subversive elements,” and acting as “enemies of Uganda.” Security agencies have been ordered to detain them immediately if they attempt to enter the country.
This decisive action comes directly on the heels of a formal legal offensive launched by the lawyers’ firm against the Ugandan state. On February 2, Amsterdam & Partners LLP, which represents Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine, publicly confirmed it had submitted a dossier to the Commonwealth Secretariat. The submission calls for Uganda’s indefinite suspension from the Commonwealth over what it terms “serious and persistent violations” of the group’s democratic principles.
The firm’s press release, issued from London, alleges that the January 15, 2026, election and its aftermath have been “marked by mass arrests, lethal force against civilians, restrictions on communications and systematic repression.” It highlights “explicit public threats” made against Bobi Wine by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the President’s son and head of the military, which it says constitute a “credible and imminent threat to life.”
“When senior commanders publicly threaten an opposition leader and the Government fails to repudiate those threats, responsibility attaches at the highest level,” said Robert Amsterdam in the statement. He called for the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to intervene with sanctions and suspension.
The Ugandan government’s response frames the lawyers’ activities as part of a long-running campaign to discredit the nation. The anonymous source stated that Amsterdam and Smith have for years “orchestrated international media campaigns aimed at discrediting and blackmailing the Ugandan government” and lobbied global financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank to isolate the country.
“Their actions represent a clear threat to Uganda’s sovereignty, security, and development, and the government has made it clear that such interference will not be tolerated,” the source concluded.
The tit-for-tat measures signal a hardening of positions. While Amsterdam & Partners LLP seeks to mobilize international legal and political pressure through the Commonwealth, Uganda is retaliating by barring its advocates and labeling their work as a national security threat. This sets the stage for a protracted diplomatic battle, with the opposition leader Bobi Wine and his safety at the center of the storm.
The Commonwealth Secretariat has not yet publicly commented on the received dossier or Uganda’s subsequent actions.
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