Bobi condemns prolonged detention of iron sheets protesters

For close to two months now, the group of 9 youths who staged a peaceful demonstration challenging the delayed prosecution of ministers in the Karamoja iron sheets saga have been braving a prolonged detention since their arrest in March 2023.

The youths were earlier this month granted a UGX 200,000 cash bail for each but their temporary freedom couldn’t last long after police again immediately arrested them outside Buganda Road Court and instituted fresh charges on them.

It is anticipated that the arrest was preemptive as police suspected that the group from the Torture Survivors Movement would again participate and champion the May 8th peaceful demonstrations.

NUP party president Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert has lashed out at the judiciary for its double standards after granting bail to the implicated cabinet Ministers while the protesters continue to rot inside prison.

“For over 60 days now, these comrades who protested against the theft of #KaramojaIronSheets by regime ministers and officials are still in prison!
Meanwhile, the officials who stole the iron-sheets meant for the poorest people in Karamoja are freely going about their duties as the people of Karamoja and those who dared speak on their behalf continue to suffer! This humiliation will certainly come to an end! #FreeAllPoliticalPrisoners #BringBackOurPeople,” Bobi wrote.

We understand that the protesters will again appear before Buganda Road Court to have their bail application heard on the fresh charges slapped on them by the state prosecution.