By CMP Correspondent
Kampala, Uganda – This afternoon at the General Court Martial, a disconcerting incident unfolded, highlighting the grim conditions faced by political prisoners aligned with Uganda’s National Unity Platform (NUP). Gen. Museveni’s minister, Balaam, made an unannounced visit, speaking directly with the incarcerated members of NUP. Reliable sources indicate that this visit follows Balaam’s meetings at Kitalya and Luzira prisons this past Saturday. During these interactions, Balaam pressured the political detainees to plead guilty and apologize to President Museveni if they desired their freedom.
Under the weight of prolonged detention and continued uncertainty, many prisoners have succumbed to the pressure. High-profile detainees Olivia Lutaaya and Saanya Muhuydin are among those who have pleaded guilty, reportedly driven by their exhaustion over the long detention period without trial. For nearly four years, these individuals have languished in jail with no concrete prospect of justice.
However, nine NUP members continue to stand firm, refusing to admit guilt without proper due process. These brave individuals—Ssekitoleko Yasin Machete, Patrick Mwase, Sharif Kalanzi, Joseph Muwonge, Abdallah Kintu, Umar Emma Kato, Kavuma Musa, Jimmy Galukande, and Gibusiwa Abdallah—insist that the state produce evidence against them and conduct a fair trial. Despite their resilience, reports indicate that these nine continue to face severe pressure from the regime to plead guilty.
The Court Martial, which has been used to try these civilians despite the military jurisdiction being questioned, has effectively served as a tool to ensure indefinite detention without trial. The regime’s apparent strategy of coercion and delay has pushed many detainees to a point of despair, leading them to capitulate simply to escape the ongoing suffering. One cannot overlook the human toll this has taken: detainees who have endured nearly four years of detention without any hope of due process are emotionally and physically exhausted.
The act of coercing detainees into pleading guilty under duress not only questions the legitimacy of Uganda’s judicial system but also highlights the broader issues facing human rights defenders in the country. These prisoners, most of whom have been detained without trial for years, serve as a stark reminder of the fragile state of justice in Uganda. The conditions these individuals endure are not just a travesty of justice; they represent a systemic violation of fundamental human rights and the principles of fair trial guaranteed under international law.
A Deep Human Rights Perspective
The broader human rights implications of this case are severe. Coercing confessions through extended unlawful detention directly violates the right to a fair trial as enshrined in Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Uganda is a party. The use of the General Court Martial to indefinitely detain civilians highlights a concerning misuse of military jurisdiction, effectively stripping these individuals of their basic rights to a fair and impartial judicial process.
Furthermore, this strategy of prolonged arbitrary detention is a clear breach of Article 9 of the ICCPR, which protects individuals against unlawful detention and guarantees the right to a trial within a reasonable time or to be released. The detainees’ plea for evidence and a transparent trial underscores the very essence of justice – accountability, rule of law, and respect for human dignity. By denying these political prisoners a fair trial, Uganda’s government continues to undermine the values of human rights and democracy.
This situation speaks to the oppressive environment faced by political opponents and activists in Uganda, where dissent is criminalized, and those who speak against the regime are silenced through judicial manipulation. The ordeal of these NUP members is a testament to the resilience of those who refuse to be silenced, but it also exposes the systemic barriers they face in seeking justice and dignity.
As these events continue to unfold, the call for international solidarity with these political prisoners grows louder. It is a call to remember that human rights violations do not occur in a vacuum; they affect the core of human dignity and liberty. Justice delayed is indeed justice denied, and the voices of these political detainees must not be allowed to disappear into silence.q