Relatives weep after army court refuses to grant NUP supporters bail

The General Court Martial in Makindye was drenched in tears after it dismissed a bail application by 32 supporters of National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters who continue to be incarcerated in military jails.

They are accused of illegal possession of ammunition and costumes that are privy to armed forces.

Upon hearing the news that their loved one won’t be getting bail anytime soon, the relatives of the NUP supporters broke down into tears wailing in disbelief and hurt at not securing the release of their loved one.

NUP supporters in January 2022 applied to be released on bail arguing that the charges against them are bailable by the Court Martial and that they have substantial sureties including their spouses, relatives and parents.

The prosecution led by Lt Gift Mubehamwe asked the court to deny bail to the accused persons saying that some of the sureties had no proper documents to identify them and that they could not ably identify the accused persons they had come to stand surety for.

The decision by the military court didn’t sit well with the NUP leadership.

“Initially, our lawyers presented MPs and other leaders, but the court advised that we bring family members. Now family members have been rejected,” NUP Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya, said.

“Such a travesty of justice! It was heartbreaking to see so many mothers, sisters and other siblings weeping after the court session,” he added

Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine said: “The regime wants to see our people crying, but there is a God in heaven. At the turn of the clock, the people of Uganda will rejoice, and yes, there will be justice for the victims of all this injustice and impunity,” Bobi Wine said lamenting.

The NUP supporters were arrested in 2020 and early 2021 and have never tasted freedom since. “In detention close to 2 years for supporting me and NUP, their trial has not yet even started,” a desolate Bobi Wine said.