The general court martial has denied National Unity Platform (NUP) political detainees bail on the grounds that they have no place of abode in the court’s jurisdiction.
Brig. Mugabe, the presiding officer, on Monday, April 15, 2024, declined the request for bail applications for about 28 political detainees and instead ordered an expeditious trial of the applicants.
“This court finds no merit in the application (bail) and declines to grant bail to the applicants. The application is hereby dismissed. The court orders an expeditious trial of the applicants in the main case,” he ruled.
The court had earlier rejected granting bail to the detainees because they lacked substantial sureties, prompting some of the party’s legislators to come stand sureties for the applicants.
The decision taken by the court resulted in rowdy scenes created by some of the detainees and those that had come to witness the court proceeding.
The Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) have since come out to condemn the incident. UPDF defense public and information officer Gen. Brig. Felix Kulayigye said in a statement on Monday that the UPDF condemns the ‘hooliganism’ exhibited by some detainees and members of parliament, adding that they won’t hesitate to request court action against those involved.
“The UPDF, therefore, condemns, in the strongest terms possible, such acts of hooliganism and will not hesitate to request court martial authorities take legal action against those involved. The sanctity of the court must be respected at all times,” Kulayigye writes.
The detainees are accused of having been in possession of explosives during the 2021 general election campaign period and have been in custody for almost 3 years now.
These include Ms. Olivia Lutaaya, Yasin Ssekitoleko alias Machete, Robert Christopher Rugumayo, Patrick Mwase, Simon Kikaabe, Muhydin Kakooza, Abdu Matovu, Ronald Kijambo, Sharif Kalanzi, Joseph Muwonge, Mesach Kiwanuka, Abdalla Kintu, Umar Emma Kato, and Musa Kavuma.
