On Monday, a Ugandan military tribunal convicted 16 members of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) for “illegal possession of explosive devices and treachery.” This conviction comes after a lengthy and contentious legal process that has been criticized by the defence lawyers and the opposition leader, Bobi Wine.
The 16 individuals, who include Olivia Lutaaya and 15 others, had initially denied the charges but changed their plea to guilty after four years in prison. The defence lawyer, Shamim Malende, questioned the legitimacy of the proceedings, suggesting that the guilty pleas were coerced. Bobi Wine, the leader of NUP, alleged that the group was “blackmailed by state agents” into pleading guilty and seeking a presidential pardon.
The charges stem from allegations that the group was in possession of explosive devices between November 2020 and May 2021, during the presidential election period. The state alleged that these explosives were found in various parts of the country, contrary to the Firearms Act.
The sentencing of the 16 individuals is scheduled for Wednesday. Treachery carries a potential death penalty upon conviction, although there are indications that some may receive lenient sentences if they apologize to President Yoweri Museveni and distance themselves from NUP. Balam Barugahara, the Minister of Youth and Children Affairs, has been involved in negotiations that led to the guilty pleas and is advocating for lenient sentences and potential pardons.
This case is part of a broader context of political tensions in Uganda, where the 2021 presidential election was marred by allegations of fraud and violent suppression of protests, resulting in at least 54 deaths. The opposition has faced significant repression under President Yoweri Museveni’s rule since 1986).
