Reported by CMP Publications – November 22, 2024
Olivia Lutaaya, a staunch supporter of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has been released after enduring nearly four years of incarceration under harrowing conditions. Arrested in 2021 and accused of possessing explosives—a charge widely condemned as politically motivated—her case has become a stark symbol of Uganda’s ongoing human rights crisis.
During her detention, Lutaaya faced severe incommunicado conditions and was subjected to trial by a military court, a practice that undermines the principles of fair justice for civilians. Despite the Constitutional Court ruling in December 2022 that the trial of civilians in military courts is unconstitutional, Lutaaya’s ordeal persisted. Her repeated applications for bail were denied, and she was reportedly coerced into pleading guilty under duress.
Lutaaya’s release comes after a controversial deal brokered by the government, leading to her and 18 other NUP supporters admitting to charges of treachery. NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, has vehemently criticized the plea deal, describing it as a coerced admission meant to perpetuate Uganda’s harsh crackdown on political dissent.
“This is not justice; it is a calculated move to intimidate and silence the opposition,” Kyagulanyi stated in a press release.
Lutaaya’s release has reunited her with her now-grown son, Jeremiah, who was only a child at the time of her abduction in 2021. Their emotional reunion has drawn attention to the personal and familial costs of Uganda’s political repression.
Human rights organizations and international observers have long criticized Uganda’s increasing use of military courts to prosecute civilians, calling it a violation of the right to a fair trial. Lutaaya’s case is emblematic of the broader trend of politically motivated persecution aimed at suppressing opposition voices.
CMP Publications calls on Ugandan authorities to reflect on this disturbing trend and to enact meaningful reforms within the justice system. Such reforms should ensure that political expression is not criminalized, that civilian courts maintain their jurisdiction over civilian cases, and that due process rights are respected for all.
Olivia Lutaaya’s release should serve as a wake-up call for both the Ugandan government and the international community to prioritize human rights and uphold the rule of law.