The National Unity Platform (NUP) has welcomed the release of eight of its supporters who had spent nearly six years in detention, describing their freedom as a significant moment while renewing calls for justice, respect for human rights, and the rule of law. The party said the lengthy detention had caused immense suffering to the individuals and their families.The released supporters are Yasin Ssekitoleko, commonly known as Machete, Sharif Kalanzi, Abdallah Kintu, Abdukarim Gibusiwa, Musa Kavuma, Joseph Muwonge, Jimmy Galukande, and Patrick Mwase.
They regained their freedom after being granted amnesty following years in custody.Speaking after their release, NUP Secretary General Lewis Rubongoya said the party was relieved to see the eight finally reunited with their families. He maintained that they had committed no crime and should never have spent years behind bars.Rubongoya argued that the prolonged detention had robbed the former detainees of valuable years of their lives, disrupted their livelihoods, and placed emotional and financial burdens on their loved ones.
He expressed hope that they would now have the opportunity to rebuild their lives and move forward.He further claimed that despite a ruling by the Supreme Court directing that the matter be transferred to civilian courts, the order was never implemented. According to him, the party pursued various legal options without success before the detainees eventually accepted amnesty.Rubongoya said accepting amnesty was not an admission of guilt but rather the only practical path to securing the supporters’ release after years of unsuccessful legal efforts. He emphasized that their freedom was the most important outcome after such a lengthy period in detention.
The eight were released under the Amnesty Act, bringing an end to a case that has remained a point of concern for the opposition party. NUP insists the supporters were innocent and says their detention highlights broader concerns about delays in the administration of justice and prolonged incarceration without timely resolution of cases.The government has consistently maintained that all legal matters involving detainees are handled in accordance with the law. By the time of publication, the relevant state authorities had not publicly responded to Rubongoya’s latest remarks regarding the release and the handling of the case.
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