NUP Unhappy With Pardoning Its 19 Prisoners

The National Unity Platform (NUP) has criticized government over what it called coerced pleading guilty to 19 suspects of the offences they never committed.

"This afternoon while we were at the General Court Martial meeting the NUP political prisoners, Gen. Museveni's minister Balaam came in to see them! They told us that he went to Kitalya and Luzira prisons on Saturday and met with them. He told them to plead guilty and apologize to Gen. Museveni if they want their freedom. Resultantly, most of them have given in and pleaded guilty including Olivia Lutaaya and Saanya Muhuydin".Said Lewis Rubongoya the party secretary general.

Rubongoya added that only 9 of them have thus far stuck to their guns and refused to plead guilty. These are Ssekitoleko Yasin Machete, Patrick Mwase, Sharif Kalanzi, Joseph Muwonge, Abdallah Kintu, Umar Emma Kato, Kavuma Musa, Jimmy Galukande and Gibusiwa Abdallah. 

The party accuses youth minister Hon Dr Balaam Baruhagara of visiting Kitalya and Luzira prisons telling nup prisoners to pleady guilty to all the offences and ask for President Museveni's forgiveness.

“Am happy that Olivia Lutaaya and others have finally pleaded guilty to the charges, I will now persuade the court and President to pardon them” Said Youth Minister Balaam after the suspects pleaded guilty at makindye Court martial.

"Even these nine, the regime is pressuring them to plead guilty. Rightfully, they're asking the regime to produce evidence against them and try them. The regime has of course deliberately used this military court to keep them in jail without trial". Says NUP.

During his maiden speech after swearingin as State minister for youth and children affairs Hon Balaam promised to aske President Museveni Pardon the NUP youths in jail on various charges.