Iganga, Uganda: The Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) lawyer, Abed Nasser Mudiobole has been charged with conducting unlawful military drills and inciting violence, five days after his alleged abduction by armed security personnel.
Mr Mudiobole, who is also Iganga Municipality MP aspirant, appeared before Iganga Grade One Magistrate Cherotich Kaibei on Wednesday May 21, who read the charges and remanded him to Nabidongha Prison until May 23.
His appearance came hours before a scheduled hearing in the High Court in Kampala, where his family had filed a habeas corpus petition seeking his immediate release from what they described as unlawful detention.
According to his wife, Ms Berna Mutamba, Mr Mudiobole was picked up near Kyaliwajjala, Namugongo in Wakiso District, by heavily armed men while at Gold Rock Hotel. His whereabouts remained unknown until his sudden appearance in court.
Ms Mutamba said her husband had earlier been summoned to Iganga Police Station on April 17 to record a statement over a video that allegedly showed him inspecting NUP supporters, commonly known as foot soldiers, during what appeared to be a military-style parade.
The footage, believed to have been captured on February 12, 2025, during celebrations for NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu’s 42nd birthday at the party’s headquarters in Makerere Kavule, has been circulating online and reportedly drew the attention of authorities.
Before being remanded, Mr Mudiobole told journalists he had gone six days without medical treatment, despite being diabetic. “We have trust that the Judiciary will remain independent and grant the necessary bail to me on favourable conditions,” he said.
Ms Mutamba expressed gratitude to the High Court in Kampala for acting promptly. “The case we filed forcing the government to produce Mr Mudiobole was for Wednesday at 2pm because we had served them the documents… We thank the High Court Kampala because fortunately, he has appeared in Iganga Court today,” she said.
She also questioned the legality of her husband’s detention. “The spokesperson of the police denied detaining him, but we want to know where they have been detaining him,” she said.
She expressed hope that her husband would be released on bail this Friday, citing his urgent health needs. “The application for bail was made, and sureties were presented. The prosecution did not object, but the presiding magistrate said she will decide on Friday when the suspect reappears in Court,” Ms Mutamba said.
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