Human rights activist Godwin Toko shared his disappointing experience at the General Court Martial, expressing frustration over wasted time. Alongside Agather, Toko attended the court session for the case involving Olivia Lutaaya and 31 others, who have been detained for an extended period of 1,112 days.
The ordeal began at the gate, where Agather faced rejection for wearing what the military guard deemed “leggings.” Despite attempts to clarify, Agather was denied entry, prompting her to leave the premises. Following her, Rukundo Shiphra, the NUP welfare officer responsible for the prisoners’ welfare, was also turned away. Despite wearing attire previously accepted at the court, she was told her dress was too short. However, as she held a crucial role in the proceedings, a compassionate individual provided her with a Lesu print dress to wear.
Upon entering the waiting area, Toko and his companions received further disappointing news. A lawyer informed them that the court session had been adjourned until June 17th, nearly three weeks away. The reason cited for this delay was the presence of prisoners with contagious diseases, preventing their attendance and consequently halting the proceedings.
The wait until June 17th extends the already prolonged pretrial detention period to 1,133 days. Toko highlights the staggering length of this detention, equating it to significant historical periods in Uganda’s history. This duration surpasses half of Idi Amin’s presidency and is comparable to the length of President Museveni’s NRA war.
