(Nairobi) – The Ugandan authorities have brought abusive criminal charges against an opposition politician, Muwanga Kivumbi, apparently based on his criticism of the president’s son, who is head of the armed forces, Human Rights Watch said today. © NUP Media“Ugandan authorities are weaponizing the justice system to harass and target its critics and opposition,” said Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “The government needs to end these malicious prosecutions, and instead ensure accountability for the numerous rights abuses and scaling up of human rights violations in the country.” The Ugandan authorities should urgently and impartially investigate the circumstances of those killings and hold the those responsible to account, Human Rights Watch said. Ugandan law criminalizes torture under the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act 2012, and the Human Rights (Enforcement) Act 2019 provides for personal liability for public officers who commit human rights violations.