Bobi Wine: Uganda’s judicial system fuels prison congestion, undermines rights, and ignores its own rulings

Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, the President of Uganda’s National Unity Platform (NUP), has launched a blistering critique against the nation’s judicial system, accusing it of actively contributing to the alarming congestion in prisons and eroding the fundamental rights of citizens. Speaking at the 27th Radical New Bar (RNB) Live weekly press and public engagement, Kyagulanyi called upon legal professionals to confront what he described as a “burning house” of injustice.

The event, held under the poignant theme “Lawyers as Agents of Social Justice through Upholding Human Rights and Electoral Integrity,” provided a platform for Bobi Wine to articulate his deep concerns regarding the state of the rule of law in Uganda.

A System Accused of Enabling Injustice

Kyagulanyi directly attributed the burgeoning crisis of prison overcrowding to the judiciary’s practices. He asserted that the system is prosecuting individuals whose rights have demonstrably been abused, and subsequently subjecting them to prolonged periods of remand without the benefit of a proper, timely trial. This, he argued, not only constitutes a grave violation of due process but also strains an already overstretched correctional system.

“These are not just statistics; these are human beings languishing in unimaginable conditions because the system designed to protect them is instead trapping them,” Kyagulanyi stated. “The very institutions meant to deliver justice are, in effect, perpetuating a cycle of injustice and contributing to the suffering of innocent citizens.”

A Clarion Call to “Learned Friends”

Perhaps the most potent moment of his address came as he directly challenged the legal fraternity, including those in positions of power within the profession. “Dear learned friends, it is high time we, as lawyers, stopped behaving as though we are safe while the house around us — our country — is burning,” he urged. “If even senior members of our profession, including our own president, are no longer safe, what makes the rest of us believe we are?”

This stark warning underscored his belief that the erosion of justice poses a threat to everyone, regardless of their status. He implored lawyers to shed any complacency and embrace their crucial role as agents of social justice, thereby upholding human rights and safeguarding the integrity of the nation’s democratic processes.

Targeting Critics, Shielding the Corrupt

Kyagulanyi further detailed what he perceives as a profound imbalance within the judicial system. He accused the judiciary of selectively targeting individuals who dare to speak out against injustices, effectively silencing dissent and criticism. Conversely, he claimed, the very individuals who should be held accountable and stand in the dock are often afforded protection by the system. This selective application of justice, he argued, creates a climate of fear and impunity, where the powerful operate above the law while ordinary citizens are met with harsh consequences for minor transgressions or political activism.

Judicial Decisions Undermined by the Powerful

In a stark illustration of the judiciary’s perceived powerlessness in the face of political interference, Bobi Wine cited the unfulfilled directive regarding comrade Eddie Mutwe. He highlighted a recent court order that mandated Mutwe’s transfer from Masaka Main Prison to Luzira for crucial medical treatment. “To-date,” Kyagulanyi lamented, “this has never been implemented.”

This blatant disregard for a court order, he contended, sends a chilling message: that judicial decisions can be undermined or simply ignored by those in power. Such actions, he warned, not only erode public trust in the judiciary but also demonstrate a fundamental breakdown of the rule of law, where executive influence trumps legal mandate.

Bobi Wine’s impassioned speech served as a powerful indictment of Uganda’s judicial system, painting a picture of an institution struggling to uphold its foundational principles amidst political pressures and a growing human rights crisis. His call to action for the legal community resonates as a desperate plea for accountability, integrity, and the fundamental right to justice for all Ugandans.