KAMPALA, Uganda — The National Unity Platform (NUP) has defended supporters who choose to enter plea bargain agreements or plead guilty in court to secure their release from prison, saying such decisions are driven by prolonged detention rather than an admission of guilt.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 8, the opposition party said it would not criticize members who opt for plea bargains after spending years on remand without their cases being concluded.
According to NUP, more than 150 of its supporters remain in detention on what it describes as politically motivated charges linked to the 2021 General Election and subsequent political activities.
NUP Blames Prolonged Detention and Bail Challenges
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya said the party’s legal team has successfully secured the release of hundreds of supporters over the years through bail applications, withdrawals of charges and court acquittals.
However, he noted that obtaining bail has become increasingly difficult, leaving many detainees with limited legal options.
The party attributed the situation to repeated court decisions denying bail, coupled with recent remarks by President Yoweri Museveni urging judicial officers to exercise greater caution when granting bail to suspects facing serious criminal charges.
According to NUP, the changing legal landscape has pushed some detainees to consider plea bargaining as the fastest way to regain their freedom.
“By taking this step, these comrades are not in any way admitting that they committed any offences, but they consider it to be the quickest path available for them to get out of the long periods of detention without trial,” the party said in its statement.
Rubongoya added that the party’s legal team continues to explore every lawful avenue to secure the release of detained supporters.
“Our legal teams have done and continue to do everything within the law to secure their release. Indeed, we have secured the release of hundreds of our people who were illegally detained during and after the recent elections,” he said.
High-Profile NUP Supporters Remain in the Spotlight
The statement comes amid continued public attention surrounding the detention of several high-profile NUP supporters and associates of party president Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
Among those whose arrests have attracted widespread attention are Bobi Wine’s civilian bodyguard Edward Ssebuufu, commonly known as Eddie Mutwe, as well as Achileo Kivumbi and Waiswa Mufumbiro.
NUP has consistently argued that these prosecutions are politically motivated, an allegation authorities have repeatedly denied.
The party also referenced previous cases where detained supporters accepted plea bargains after extended periods in custody.
In late 2024, 19 NUP supporters, including Olivia Lutaya, entered plea bargain agreements that resulted in their release after lengthy detention.
Other supporters, including Yasin Sserugo, Farouk Baruku, and Edwin Sserunkuuma, also accepted plea bargains or pleaded guilty. According to their lawyers and relatives, those decisions were made primarily to end prolonged incarceration rather than to acknowledge criminal responsibility.
NUP Calls for Understanding
While maintaining that it does not encourage supporters to incriminate themselves, NUP said it respects individuals who choose plea bargaining through lawful court procedures.
The party urged its members and the public not to criticize detainees who make such difficult decisions after years behind bars.
At the same time, NUP praised supporters who have continued to maintain their innocence despite remaining in detention, describing them as “bigger heroes” whose resilience deserves continued solidarity and support.
The party reiterated its commitment to pursuing legal avenues to secure the release of all supporters it believes are being held unjustly.
