NUP, Gov’t in Talks over 2021 Elections Political Detainees

The Office of the Leader of Opposition in Parliament through the Shadow Minister of Security, Derrick Nyeko has revealed that talks with government officials to have the 2021 elections political detainees released by security agencies are yet to yield results.

Last week, following guidance of the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, a meeting was chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Anita Among between the shadow cabinet and the government ministers in charge of security and Internal Affairs.

This followed concerns that had been raised by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP), Mathias Mpuuga in regard to human rights violations in the country including the plight of National Unity Platform (NUP)/People Power supporters who have been in detention for more than two years without trial.

From government side, the meeting was attended by the Security Minister, Gen. Jim Muhwezi and the State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi while the Opposition was represented by the Abdallah Kiwanuka (Internal Affairs), Derrick Nyeko (Security), Shamim Malende (Justice)and Hanifah Nabukeera (Human Rights).

While addressing the media on Wednesday morning, Nyeko said that despite the engagements, more Ugandans some of whom are their supporters have continued to be detained by security forces and taken to unknown destinations.

“We have had a number of discussions as Parliament with the office of the Speaker and the line ministers in charge of security and internal affairs but we haven’t got any guarantee that these issues are to be resolved since our people haven’t been brought to courts of law,” Nyeko said.

The Shadow Minister noted that in the meeting, it was agreed that a response of action shall be communicated to the opposition in a follow up meeting that was to take place yesterday but this didn’t happen.

Nyeko said that the human rights violations are instead increasing observing that last night the party Coordinator Canan Nsubuga was abducted from Namulanda while others such as Ronald Mutebi, Ivan Ssentongo and others are still missing.

He said that these fresh abductions are being linked up with the Bijambiya incidences and distribution of life-threatening letters in different parts of the country.

“It is sad that investigations are not giving us a proper information and they are not lining up these people before courts of law for justice to prevail,” Nyeko said.

He observed that as such, the Shadow cabinet has resolved that immediately after Parliament recess, they shall move a motion on the floor of Parliament for fresh investigations on the people who have been murdered, abducted and those who continue to be tortured in different security units.

“We are calling for investigations into the human rights violations and murders which happened during the 2021 elections, we want to remind government that there is a constitution which guides what security agencies must do,” Nyeko noted.