Kampala, Uganda: The opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) has accused the state of political persecution following the remand of its Deputy Spokesperson, Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, on charges of unlawful drilling.
Mufumbiro appeared before the Kawempe Magistrates Court on September 8, 2025, where state prosecutors alleged that in February this year, he organized military-style training activities at the party’s Kamwokya headquarters.
The court ordered his remand pending hearing, sparking outrage from NUP leaders.
But the opposition party leadership insists the charges are fabricated to cripple opposition mobilization ahead of the 2026 elections. “This is outright harassment. Political organizing should never be criminalized,” a senior NUP official said.
Mufumbiro, who denied the charges, described his arrest as a plot to silence critical voices. “We shall not be intimidated. Our work is legitimate and rooted in the people’s struggle for freedom and justice,” he told supporters before being taken to prison.
The case has wider implications for the opposition. Kampala Central Woman Lord Councillor, Sauda Madada, has also been charged on similar grounds. Both leaders are expected back in court on September 29, 2025.
Human rights advocates have joined NUP in condemning the arrests, warning against what they called the “weaponization of security laws” to target opposition actors while leaving the ruling party free to mobilize without restrictions.
For NUP, Mufumbiro’s continued detention is the latest in a string of legal battles it has faced, underscoring the tense environment in which Uganda’s leading opposition force is preparing for the next general election.
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