The National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters were yesterday denied bail again by General Court Martial for the third time.
NEWS: The Representative of the 28 National Unity Platform supporters who has been in prison for over 3 years have emphasized the political nature of the case denouncing it as persecution rather than prosecution.
This was after jailed NUP supporters had appeared to the General Court Martial in Makindye chaired by Brig. General Freeman Mugabe, despite his ruling, denied bail to the defendants for the third time.
The court session commenced at around 11am with tension arising when the military Police merged with a handcuffed defendant Kakonza prompting agitation among the waiting relatives.
Speaking to this reporter after the court session, the leaders of opposition in Parliament Hon. Joel Senyonyi said that some Ministers and Police officers have reached out to their NUP supporters urging them to accept cases which they never committed.
“You hear some Ministers trying to negotiate saying let them accept and there is a police officer who has been coaching them telling them that if you committed these offenses, you will be given 200 million shillings land and other offers. And our people are saying no because they didn’t commit these offenses. And we are insisting and we will keep insisting, if you say there’s some evidence why haven’t you availed it ” said Joel Senyonyi.
Aisha Kabanda, a mother to Yasin Ssekitto said that she took a long time coming to court begging of his sons noting that her son is Ugandan children who are entitled to enjoying his rights and a Ugandan.
“Am and others are tired of begging for their release, let them tell us the dates when we can pick their dead bodies from Kitalya. What do you want us to do, these are Ugandan children” said Aisha Kabanda.
The denial of the bail to 28 National Unity Platform supporters for the third time is due to the lack of fixed places of abode, which would make it difficult for the court to ensure their return for trial.
The case which started in June 2021 was adjourned to 6th May year when the accused will appear for trial.
