The Makindye General Court Martial Chairman, Brig. Gen. Freeman Mugabe has on Monday 15, yet again denied National Unity Platform (NUP) Olivia Lutaaya and 27 others bail sighting the lack fixed places of abode by the suspects, making it difficult for the court to ensure their return for trial.
Following their arrest during the 2021 election campaign under the charges of possession of military stores, the 28 NUP supporters have been yarning to gain their freedom through the Constitutional right of being granted bail but all in vain.
“Yet again, the military court in Makindye has declined to grant bail to Olivia Lutaaya and others! This time around, they claim that the accused persons have no fixed places of abode (residence), even when the court documents indicate where each of them stayed before they were abducted or arrested! Grave, grave injustice committed against these young Ugandans for simply opposing the Museveni dictatorship!” the party General secretary David Rubongoya posted on his official X handle expressing his grievance over the matter
Earlier on, the party General secretary had expressed optimism having faced different hurdles raising from amongothers the lack of substantial sureties something they had over come having aligned other surities including the leader of opposition and other members of parliament whom were regarded as substantial
He posted, “Today we return to the General Court Martial for a ruling on the bail application for these comrades (Olivia Lutaaya & Others) in detention for three years and counting. Previous applications have been dismissed on the most ridiculous grounds, including being told that their parents were not substantial sureties. (At another application, only four of the 32 were released on bail.),”
“The plight of these comrades exemplifies the incredible price so many people have had to pay in fighting for a better country. Their resilience in the face of many attempts to compromise and use them exemplifies their true belief in the cause for which they are here. Our demand remains for the unconditional freedom of our people.”
Earlier on this month the leader of opposition in parliament Mr Joel Ssenyonyi for another time tabled names of the 18 people who have been missing since 2017 and another list of 48 National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters who are still incarcerated in different prisons battling different charges.
This move was prompted by the new junior Minister for Youth & Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara who on Wednesday 3, indicated that he had begged President Museveni to pardon the jailed NUP supporters and asked for the list of who they are.
The disappearances and arrests started in 2020 when then NUP Presidential Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine was arrested in Luuka District where he had gone for campaigns. Sporadic protests ensued on the streets of most townships across the country demanding his release.
The security swang in action to contain the protests and 54 people were gunned down in the melee.
The government later said that they had arrested over 1300 people in connection to the happenings of that November 18, 19 protests. Many of these people after several media reports and international outburst against the government, were released on bail, dumped in different places across the country while others still battle charges in court.
At least 18 of these have never been seen and despite different files of habias Corpus released by courts, they have never appeared in any courts of law or seen by their relatives.
The president of the NUP Robert Kyagulanyi has since also posted on his official X saying, “I have just learnt that the kangaroo military court in Makindye has yet again declined to grant bail to our comrades who are stuck at Kitalya and other prisons for over three years- despite presenting substantive sureties including Members of Parliament. The military court now claims that these comrades, some of whom were picked from their homes, do not have fixed places of residence. For opposing Museveni and his military regime, these comrades have paid such a heavy price. Even in the midst of all pain and frustration, I want to encourage all of us never to give up the fight for freedom. Oppression never has the last laugh. Eventually, light will shine on Uganda.”
