The continued detention of several National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters and the unresolved whereabouts of many other opposition activists have once again sparked a new debate about human rights, political freedoms, and the state of Uganda’s democracy as new questions come.
Several NUP supporters and mobilizers remain incarcerated at Luzira Prison on various charges ranging from unlawful military drills to security-related offences as captured over the years and among those currently in detention are; Eddie Mutwe, Achileo Kivumbi, Bobi Young, Bobi Giant, Waiswa Mufumbiro, Olivia Nalutaaya, and others.
Over the years, many of these individuals have become recognizable faces within the opposition movement and are widely viewed by NUP supporters as victims of political persecution due to their close association with opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
Human rights activists and opposition leaders have repeatedly criticized what they describe as prolonged detentions, delayed court processes, denied bail applications, and continued arrests targeting opposition mobilizers, concerns go beyond those currently known to be in prison as there are also questions about opposition supporters and activists whose whereabouts remain unknown or who were reportedly picked up by security operatives and later disappeared from public view, such as Ddamulira Shariff, John Bosco Kibalama,Yuda Sempijja,Musisi Mboowa, John Damulira, Godfrey Kisembo, Muhammad Anatta and others whose families and colleagues have at various times struggled to obtain clear information regarding their whereabouts.
These concerns have fueled growing calls for transparency, with activists demanding that authorities account for all individuals arrested in security operations and ensure their constitutional rights are protected.
The National Unity Platform leadership has continued to campaign for the release of detained supporters while also demanding answers regarding those they believe remain unlawfully detained or unaccounted for.
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya has on several occasions shared updates following visits to party supporters in Luzira Prison, saying many remain resilient despite spending lengthy periods behind bars.
Meanwhile, social media campaigns calling for the release of opposition supporters continue to gain momentum, with activists using hashtags such as #FreePoliticalPrisonersUganda and #FreeAllPoliticalPrisoners to draw attention to the issue.
The Ugandan government has consistently maintained that all arrests are based on lawful investigations and security concerns rather than political affiliation.
