The General Court Martial in Makindye, led by Chairman Freeman Mugabe, has sentenced 16 National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters to five years in prison after being convicted of attempting to overthrow the Ugandan government and possessing 13 bombs. However, due to mitigating factors, their sentence was reduced, and they will serve only three months and 22 days on remand.
The group of 16, part of the 32 individuals linked to the case of Olivia Lutaaya, pleaded guilty on October 14, following nearly four years of detention without trial. Among those who pleaded guilty were Olivia Lutaaya and Saanya Muhuydin.
Nine of the accused have refused to admit guilt and are continuing their legal fight. These include Ssekitoleko Yasin Machete, Patrick Mwase, Sharif Kalanzi, Joseph Muwonge, Abdallah Kintu, Umar Emma Kato, Kavuma Musa, Jimmy Galukande, and Gibusiwa Abdallah.
Following the guilty pleas, NUP alleged that the pleas were made under duress. According to the party, regime pressure forced these individuals to admit to crimes they did not commit. NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) claimed that the accused were visited by Balaam, a minister in President Museveni’s government, who pressured them to plead guilty in exchange for leniency, threatening that otherwise they would remain in prison indefinitely.
The NUP further noted that the prisoners had been forced to drop their legal team, which had represented them since 2021, after attempts to secure their freedom had repeatedly failed. The party claims that the case was politically motivated, and the accused were forced to replace their lawyers with those appointed by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
In his remarks, Kyagulanyi urged the public to support the convicts rather than criticize them. He emphasized that the pleas were a result of intense pressure from the regime.
“While the regime is coercing many to plead guilty to crimes they did not commit to create divisions between us, we fully understand the pain and frustration they have endured. We will continue fighting for their release and supporting them in every way possible. After nearly four years of detention without trial, these are true Ugandan heroes,” Kyagulanyi said.
He added, “They are prisoners of conscience. Unfortunately, some agents, even those posing as opposition, are blaming the victims rather than holding accountable the regime that imprisoned them. The people of Uganda know the truth.”
