(Kampala) – The National Unity Platform (NUP) has accused the Ugandan government of coercing its members into pleading guilty to crimes they did not commit. In a statement released by the party, NUP alleges that 28 political prisoners, including Olivia Lutaaya, appeared before the military court martial in Makindye on September 10, 2024. The group has been in detention since mid 2021, charged with offenses that have yet to go to trial.
NUP claims that these individuals have consistently maintained their innocence while enduring abduction, torture, and prolonged imprisonment. Despite four attempts to secure bail, their requests have been denied.
The opposition party further alleges that regime emissaries have been pressuring these prisoners and their families, warning them of harsher punishment unless they plead guilty to the fabricated charges. Additionally, the emissaries reportedly encouraged them to replace their current legal representation with military lawyers.
During their latest court appearance, three of the prisoners changed their pleas to guilty and requested UPDF lawyers to represent them. Another prisoner, Sanya Muhydin, declared that he had been misled by NUP leaders into committing the crimes he is accused of. Notably, Sanya was recently sentenced to eight months in prison for contempt after protesting his persecution in court. NUP claims that these events were observed by a government advisor close to President Museveni, despite an earlier ruling that barred family members, friends, and the public from attending the proceedings.
NUP expressed concern that the government has managed to coerce these prisoners into pleading guilty in hopes of securing their release. The party argues that the regime is using these pleas to legitimize politically motivated charges and prolong the detention of individuals exercising their constitutional rights.
Since 2020, the Ugandan government has accused NUP leaders and members of criminal activities, but NUP maintains that these claims are baseless and part of a broader effort to suppress political dissent. The party argues that the involuntary guilty pleas are a tactic to weaken their fight for justice and freedom in Uganda.
The statement condemned the government’s abuse of power and its manipulation of the judicial process to target political opponents. NUP also criticized the delays in the court proceedings, stating that these are intentional moves to punish the prisoners for seeking a fair trial.
NUP has called on the Ugandan public and the international community to support their demand for justice. They urge the government to be held accountable for its alleged human rights violations and persecution of opposition members. The party reaffirmed its commitment to the struggle for a free Uganda where all citizens can exercise their rights without fear of retaliation.
| Key Allegations by NUP | Government Response |
|---|---|
| Political prisoners coerced to plead guilty | No official response from the government yet |
| Regime pressures prisoners to drop NUP lawyers | Government has not commented on these allegations |
| Judicial process manipulated to delay trial | Ongoing court proceedings |
The international community has not yet officially responded to these accusations, but NUP remains hopeful that increased global pressure will help bring about a resolution to Uganda’s human rights concerns.
