The National Unity Platform (NUP) has said it will not condemn detained supporters who choose to enter plea bargains or plead guilty in order to secure their release from prison, describing the decision as a response to prolonged detention rather than an admission of guilt.
In a statement released on Tuesday, July 8, the opposition party said more than 150 of its supporters remain in detention on what it described as politically motivated charges stemming from the 2021 general election period and subsequent political activities.
According to the party, some of the detainees have spent years in custody without their cases being concluded.
NUP Secretary General Daid Lewis Rubongoya said its legal team has, over the years, secured the release of hundreds of supporters through bail applications, withdrawals of charges and acquittals.
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However, it said recent difficulties in obtaining bail have slowed those efforts, leaving some detainees with limited legal options.
The party attributed the situation to what it called repeated refusals by courts to grant bail, as well as recent remarks by President Museveni urging judicial officers to exercise greater caution when considering bail for suspects accused of serious offences.
NUP argued that the prolonged detention has prompted some of its supporters to pursue plea bargains as the quickest available legal route to regain their freedom.
"By taking this step, these comrades are not in any way admitting that they committed any offences, but they consider it to be the quickest path available for them to get out of the long periods of detention without trial," the statement said.
"Our legal teams have done and continue to do everything within the law to secure their release. Indeed, we have secured the release of hundreds of our people who were illegally detained during and after the recent elections."
The clarification comes against the backdrop of several high-profile cases involving NUP supporters and associates of party president Robert Kyagulanyi, many of whom have spent lengthy periods in detention.
Among those whose detention attracted widespread public attention are Bobi Wine's civilian bodyguard Eddie Mutwe (Edward Ssebuufu), Achileo Kivumbi and Waiswa Mufumbiro, whose arrests and prosecutions have repeatedly been cited by the opposition as examples of what it describes as politically motivated persecution.
NUP principal Kyagulanyi fled to exile with his family months after the disputed January 15 presidential election.
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The party also pointed to previous instances where detained supporters opted for plea bargains or guilty pleas after extended periods in custody.
In late 2024, 19 NUP supporters, including Olivia Lutaya, accepted plea bargain arrangements that enabled them to regain their freedom after prolonged detention.
Other detainees, including Yasin Sserugo, Farouk Baruku and Edwin Sserunkuuma, similarly opted for plea bargains or guilty pleas, with lawyers and family members saying the decisions were driven by the desire to end lengthy incarceration rather than an admission of criminal responsibility.
While maintaining that it does not encourage self-incrimination, NUP said it respects supporters who choose plea bargaining through established legal processes and urged party members not to vilify them for making difficult personal decisions under prolonged detention.
At the same time, the party commended detainees who have continued to maintain their innocence despite remaining behind bars, describing them as "bigger heroes" whose resilience deserves continued support from the party and the public.
