(KAMPALA) – Supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who have been on remand for over three years, accused of plotting to overthrow the Government of Uganda, have made a significant change in their defense strategy. The 29 suspects, facing charges of treachery and illegal possession of explosives, have dismissed their previous legal team and are now represented by new lawyers. This development comes as they signal their intent to change their plea from not guilty to guilty.
The accused, who were previously represented by Benjamin Katana, NUP’s national treasurer, and George Musisi, have appointed Captain Simon Nsubuga Busagwa and Elizabeth Nyasigwa as their new defense lawyers. The suspects are facing two major charges: treachery, which under the UPDF Act of 2005 carries a maximum death sentence, and illegal possession of 13 pieces of explosive devices, which is a violation of the Firearms Act.
On Monday, October 7, 2024, the suspects appeared before the General Court Martial in Makindye, Kampala. Their new lead counsel, Captain Busagwa, informed the court that his clients were prepared to change their plea. He expressed their readiness to plead guilty to the charges against them, a shift in their defense that has garnered attention.
Despite the defense’s readiness to proceed, Brigadier General Robert Freeman Mugabe, who chairs the General Court Martial, adjourned the hearing to October 14, 2024. The adjournment was necessary due to the large number of suspects involved, which made it difficult for the court to manage the process in one session.
The suspects are charged with treachery and possession of explosives, offenses linked to their alleged involvement in violent activities against the Ugandan government. They are accused of being part of a group known as the “Bali Bali” group, which, according to the prosecution, engaged in warlike activities between March and May 2021. The group is alleged to have recruited and trained individuals to carry out attacks using explosive devices in Kampala and other cities such as Jinja and Mbale.
Prosecutors claim that the suspects unlawfully detonated these devices on vehicles and infrastructure in various areas, including Kireka, Kawempe, Natete, and Kampala Central, with the intention of causing harm to national security. The charges suggest that these activities were part of a broader plan to destabilize the country during the period between November 2020 and May 2021.
