NUP Welcomes Release of Supporters After Nearly Six Years in Detention

What the report says

The National Unity Platform (NUP) has welcomed the release of eight of its supporters who had spent nearly six years in detention, saying their imprisonment was unjust and underscoring its call for respect for human rights and the rule of law. The release was reported by Nile Post and came under the Amnesty Act, according to the article.

The supporters named in the report are Yasin Ssekitoleko, also known as Machete, Sharif Kalanzi, Abdallah Kintu, Abdukarim Gibusiwa, Musa Kavuma, Joseph Muwonge, Jimmy Galukande and Patrick Mwase. NUP Secretary General Lewis Rubongoya said the party was relieved to see them freed and maintained that they had not committed any offence. He said their long detention affected both the men and their families.

Rubongoya also said the party had pursued legal remedies for the group, including after a Supreme Court ruling that he said directed the cases to civilian courts. He claimed the transfer did not happen and that the men were eventually released after accepting amnesty. The article notes that NUP views the case as an example of delays in justice and prolonged detention.

The report also says the government has generally maintained that legal matters involving detainees are handled according to the law, and that there was no immediate response from relevant state authorities to Rubongoya’s latest comments by the time of publication.