Yesterday (Wednesday 27th March 2024), President Museveni promised to set free some of the opposition leaders who have been locked in jail for some months.
“ We shall look into the cases of people who were burning tyres on our roads and those who beat up people,” said Museveni about NUP supporters who engaged in violent acts in the 2021 general elections.
“And for those who are on capital offences such as murders, it will be hard to set them free,” Museveni added.
The president made this statement on Wednesday during the swearing ceremony of the newly appointed ministers at the event held at State House Entebbe.
This came after the newly appointed State Minister Of Gender and Children Affairs Balaam Barungahara introduced Ali Kateregga the Councilor for NUP representing Masaka region to the president.
Ali Kateregga urged President Museveni to forgive and pardon some of the jailed opposition members to be freed so that they can come back to their families and have Eid with them.
Replying to Ali Kateregga’s request, President Museveni said that he would only pardon the suspects on condition that they don’t take part in any criminality acts because the government uses so much money to put the infrastructure and also protect the citizens’ lives.
We should also remember that the count at one time released only 11 NUP supporters who were accused of taking part in such terrorist activities and also creating improvised explosives equipment during the 2021 general elections.
Opposition Members of Parliament have been abstaining from participating in parliamentary proceedings since last October. They are demanding the release of their supporters, whom they claim are being detained by security forces.
Balaam had previously pledged to appeal to the President for the release of all young individuals, especially those who support the opposition, particularly the National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters currently in custody.
Last year, the former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga, stated that over 500 NUP supporters had been arrested across the country on various charges. Many of them were released after a year without being tried.
However, Mpuuga emphasized the need for accountability regarding the reported deaths of 22 NUP supporters during the party president, Robert Kyagulanyi’s, campaign in 2021.
“The families of the deceased are still grieving, with no prospect of ever attaining justice for the loss of their loved ones,” he remarked.
Mpuuga further pointed out that the government had failed to provide accountability and justice for numerous others who have been missing for nearly four years.
“These individuals were apprehended from their workplaces and residences by state security agencies. Families and acquaintances have provided detailed reports of their arrests and subsequent disappearances. Only the state can clarify their whereabouts,” he asserted.
