Kampala, (UG):- President Yoweri Museveni has granted pardon to nineteen supporters of the position National Unity Platform (NUP) recently convicted for charges related to treason and unlawful possession of ammunition under the Uganda People’s Defence Forces Act and the Firearms Act.
In the instrument of pardon dated November 20, 2024, the President exercised his constitutional powers under Article 121(1)(a) of Uganda’s Constitution and granted a pardon to the 19 individuals who had been jailed at Kitalya government prison in Wakiso District since November 2020.
“In exercise of the power vested in me under Article 121(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, as amended, and on the advice of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, I hereby grant a pardon to the persons listed below for the offence of treachery c/s 3(1)(2)(a) of the Firearms Act, Cap. 30,” the statement read.
The pardoned prisoners, released today according to Prison Spokesperson Frank Baine were arrested during the political unrest and the tension surrounding the 2021 general elections and had been accused of possessing ammunition with the intent to use it in actions deemed detrimental to the state.
Some of the supporters, including Rashid Ssegujja and Olivia Lutaaya faced arrest during or after the violent protests that broke out across the country, especially after the 2021 elections and were charged with inciting violence and protests, which led to clashes with security forces.
The charges stemmed from the individuals’ alleged participation in activities that threatened national security. Many of the NUP supporters had been accused of stockpiling ammunition and engaging in acts that were considered to undermine the government’s authority.
The charges were primarily based on the possession of ammunition that was claimed to have been linked to acts of violence. Some of the accused had been found in possession of firearms or explosives that were allegedly intended for use in political unrest. The severity of these charges placed many of the individuals in lengthy prison sentences, which they began serving while challenging the legality of their arrests and convictions.
The NUP supporters granted pardon include:–
- Sseguja Rashid
- Rugumayo Robert Christopher
- Kakooza Muhuyadin
- Kujambu Simon
- Matovu Abdul
- Lutaaya Olivia
- Kijjambu Ronald
- Kiwanuka Mesach
- Wandera Ibrahim
- Nagwere Asubat
- Musakuru Stephen
- Muyanguzi Paul
- Matovu Sharif
- Mafabi Davis
- Katushabe Kigozi Livingstone
- Katabi Swaibu
- Obalayai Mudeebo Siraji
- Muganza Jospeh
- Lwanga Stanley
The Plea and Pardon
After their convictions, the NUP supporters last month pleaded guilty to the charges of unlawful possession of ammunition, a decision that allowed them to seek mercy. Through the exercise of the prerogative of mercy, the President, based on the advice of the Advisory Committee, reviewed their cases and granted them a pardon, releasing them from the sentences they had been serving.Hon Balaam Barugahara as the State Minister for Youth after his appointment to the ministerial position earlier this year vowed to support the imprisoned youths, even if it meant personally requesting President Museveni to pardon them.
Speaking to a local publication on November 22, Mr Barugahara noted that the majority of the pardoned individuals were youths. He explained that there were initially 31 NUP supporters involved in the case; three were granted bail, 19 pleaded guilty, and the rest were sentenced to several months in prison.
He said he wrote to the President one week after their sentencing, requesting a pardon. “When I became a minister, I didn’t bring my wife to the swearing-in ceremony. Instead, I brought a young NUP supporter who had approached Gen Muhoozi during a rally to ask for help. I used this opportunity to request the President to pardon their friends as an Eid gift,” Mr Barugahara said.
“After speaking to the President, he accepted and agreed to forgive them. However, there was a process. You cannot pardon someone who has not accepted their offence or pleaded guilty. These young people were willing to admit to their offences.”
The minister emphasized that the young people had suffered in jail for over four years, during which politicians exploited them for financial gain. “I want to thank the President for answering the call of these young people,” Mr Barugahara said.
“My next task is to rehabilitate them and support them in becoming productive members of society. I call upon other young people in trouble to know that I will serve them, regardless of their political affiliation.”
Last month, NUP party president, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, openly accused youth minister Balaam Barugahara of visiting the jailed NUP supporters in prison and “pressuring them to plead guilty and seek Museveni’s forgiveness or else never leave prison.”
“While we have been routinely blocked from visiting these comrades, regime operatives have held unrestricted access to them during which they have held long, recorded conversations and exercised undue influence over them,” Wine wrote on X.
The release of these NUP supporters has sparked a mixture of reactions across the political landscape of Uganda. While the move has been hailed as a step toward healing and reconciliation, the complexity of the charges and the political context in which they arose mean that the debate over the President’s actions will likely continue to evolve in the coming months.
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