NUP reignites demand for political prisoners

The National Unity Platform (NUP) party has renewed calls for the release of over 20 of their missing supporters who disappeared during the January 2021 general elections.

In January, the president of National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) party, Joseph Kabuleeta petitioned the High Court in Kampala to release 32 prisoners citing illegal detention at Kitalya. NUP secretary-general,  David Lewis Rubongoya tells KFM that they have since petitioned the International Crimes Court (ICC) after being frustrated by human rights agencies in Uganda.

“Nothing is coming out to show us where these people went to and their crime was simply supporting our president Kyagulanyi and the NUP. Of course the abductions continue, we have seen several weeks our people were taken away and returned with horrific stories of torture,” Rubongoya said.

His remarks come as Uganda joins the rest of the world today to commemorate the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture under the theme, “Stop torture, rebuild lives of survivors for sustainable development”.

He adds that laws like the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture 2012 that give effect to the obligations to Uganda as a State Party to the United Nation’s Convention against Torture and other Cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment have not been implemented fully.