Five more supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) have been remanded to Luzira prison on charges of unlawful drilling after being seen in videos conducting a "military-like parade."
The five, who have been in police custody for approximately two weeks, were brought to court under heavy security.
The group, which includes Tasi Calvin, Serunkuuma Edwin, Lukenge Sharif, Yasin Nyanzi, and Tonny Kaweesi, now join Edward Sebuufu, also known as Eddie Mutwe, and Achileo Kivumbi, who were previously charged with the same offense.
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According to the prosecution, the seven accused--along with others who have not yet been arrested--attended an unsanctioned meeting on February 12, 2025, at the NUP offices in Makerere-Kavule.
The purpose of the gathering, court heard, was to train participants in military exercises, which is a violation of Section 45(1)(b) of the Penal Code Act.
The group also faces a second count of conspiracy to commit a felony.
All five new suspects have pleaded not guilty and have applied for bail, presenting relatives and friends as sureties.
Their lawyers, including Kakuru Tumusiime, Shamim Malende, Jonathan Erotu, Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, and Samuel Muyizzi Mulindwa, argued that the sureties were substantial and that the charges against their clients were bailable.
The lawyers informed the court that one of the sureties, NUP Deputy Spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mumbiro, had been blocked from accessing the court premises and was later arrested.
Chief State Attorney Sharon Nambuya requested a one-month adjournment to verify the bail application, citing an overwhelming caseload.
"We have so many cases to handle and this one is not the only case at our desk," Nambuya said. "We are overloaded and therefore we need more time to look for affidavits in response to the application, verification of documents to determine their authenticity, among others." She threatened that even with a shorter adjournment, the prosecution would not be ready to proceed.
Magistrate Damalie Agumaasiimwe, however, rejected the request for a one-month delay.
Citing the need to "strike a balance between the interests of the accused persons and the prayers made by the prosecution," she instead adjourned the case to August 29, 2025, to allow the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to prepare its response.
The accused will remain on remand until that date.
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