This morning, the Makindye general court martial denied to grant bail to the 32 National Unity Platform party supporters despite spending close to 2 years on remand.
The suspects are facing charges of possession of Military stores and ammunition since their arrest in April 2021, a month before Museveni’s inauguration for the sixth term. By then, the UPDF spokesperson Brig. Flavia Byekwaso and the police publicist Fred Enanga had claimed they had landed on a plot by opposition youths to sabotage the inauguration ceremony under the ‘Tajja Kulayira’ campaign which loosely translates to “He will not swear in”.
The joint military operation saw scores of NUP supporters picked from as far as Mbale city, Wakiso and Kampala. Several were found with the red berets and overalls that had been outlawed as a military monopoly. The youths were since subjected to court martial under section 119 of the 2005 UPDF act.
“We were at the General Court Martial for the hearing of the case against these 32 comrades. The prosecution yet again employed another delaying tactic, saying they want the case to be heard in camera so as “not to endanger the witnesses”. Unfortunately, for two years now, the regime has not brought these witnesses who they keep talking about, or disclosed them to our lawyers.It is clear the intention is to prolong and delay this trial indefinitely,” Rubongoya who was at court writes.
“I also saw and spoke with our brother Bobi Young who is also facing trumped up charges before the same court. Of course, we continue to protest against the continuing trial of civilians in military courts in complete disregard of the law. I encouraged them to remain firm and hopeful even amidst these repressive circumstances,” secretary general David Lewis Rubongoya further wrote.
