The Law Development Centre (LDC) Magistrate's Court in Kampala has remanded six youth activists from Rooted in Resistance to Luzira Prison until September 17, 2026, over charges of unlawful assembly.
The six were arrested on Monday at RR Pearl Tower One along Yusuf Lule Road, where TotalEnergies has its offices, while reportedly attempting to deliver petitions calling for reforms in Uganda's oil sector.
Those remanded are Isaac Mukibi, Alphat Manwanda, Nicholas Mugezi, Innocent Opio, John Friday and Ronald Onyango.
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They appeared before LDC Magistrate Joanita Muwanika on September 3 and were charged under Sections 65 and 66 of the Penal Code Act.
After hearing the case, Magistrate Muwanika ordered that the six be taken to Luzira Prison, where they will remain until September 17, when they are expected to return to court for a bail application.
The remand has attracted criticism from human rights lawyers, particularly over the length of time the activists spent in detention before being presented before court.
Human rights lawyer Kakuru Tumusiime, who represented the activists, said some of the accused persons told court that they had been tortured while in detention.
Tumusiime said the activists were taking legal steps over their alleged mistreatment and should be allowed to pursue justice through the courts.
"We have appeared before the LDC Court; the activists have been remanded to prison up to September 17, 2026, on charges of unlawful assembly, despite spending more than 48 hours in detention," Tumusiime said.
He also questioned the authorities' handling of the activists, arguing that their concerns over Uganda's oil sector should be addressed rather than restricting their efforts to raise questions through petitions.
Tumusiime called on the Government and other relevant authorities to listen to the issues raised by the activists, particularly those concerning developments in the country's oil sector.
He further argued that Uganda's pursuit of oil production should be accompanied by measures to protect the environment, saying economic development should not come at the expense of environmental protection.
The activists are part of Rooted in Resistance, a youth-led group that has been raising concerns about Uganda's oil projects and their potential social and environmental impact.
Their arrest came as they sought to deliver petitions calling for reforms in the oil sector, according to information presented in relation to the case.
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The six will remain on remand at Luzira Prison until September 17, when they are expected back before the LDC Magistrate's Court to pursue their bail application.
