The National Unity Platform (NUP), the main opposition party in Uganda, has publicly distanced itself from one of its members who approached President Museveni with a plea for the pardon of political prisoners associated with the party. Ali Katerega, identified as a councillor in Masaka City and a member of NUP, was observed among the entourage accompanying newly appointed state minister Balaam Barugahara during the minister’s swearing-in ceremony at State House Entebbe.
Katerega’s appeal to President Museveni was aimed at securing clemency for political detainees who were arrested before, during, or after the 2021 elections. He argued that many of these individuals had been misled by opportunistic politicians. In response, President Museveni indicated a willingness to consider the release of some prisoners, excluding those convicted of capital offenses.
However, the leader of NUP, Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, promptly disowned Katerega’s actions, asserting that they did not align with the party’s stance. Addressing a gathering commemorating Women’s Day, Kyagulanyi emphasized that seeking freedom from oppression was a constitutional right, and NUP would not resort to pleading with Museveni for it.
Kyagulanyi reiterated his belief in the innocence of all detained NUP supporters, emphasizing the need for justice for those who had been killed or imprisoned. He asserted that Museveni, as the head of state, should ensure that detained party members are treated in accordance with Ugandan law, even as international legal avenues are pursued.
The party’s lawyer, Shamin Malende, raised concerns about the selective enforcement of laws, noting that while Katerega wore the distinctive red beret associated with NUP, he faced no repercussions, unlike other supporters who had been detained merely for wearing the same attire.
The detention of alleged NUP supporters during Uganda’s 2021 electoral period has drawn international attention, with reports of disappearances and deaths among those targeted. Earlier in the week, Minister Balaam had pledged to advocate for the release of detained NUP members, signaling a potential shift in government policy regarding political prisoners.
