NUP’s Olivia Lutaaya still detained since 2021

On this International Women’s Day, my heart is heavy as I think of comrade Olivia Lutaaya. She is a woman who has faced unimaginable hardships for simply standing up for what she believes in.

Olivia’s story is a tragic one. As a young mother of two, she was in 2021 violently taken from her home in Namuwongo, brutally beaten, and tortured.
She continued to narrate how she was at gun point forced to make phone calls that led to the abduction and torture of her fellow comrades. And then, after months of being held incommunicado, she was produced in court and charged with a crime she has no idea about. She has since been detained since then.

But despite all of this, Olivia has tried to remain strong. She has shown incredible resilience and courage in the face of adversity. Even while in prison, she has encouraged her fellow comrades to be strong and to never give up owing to the fact that they never committed any single crime.

Olivia’s story is a stark reminder that the fight for women’s rights is far from over. It is a fight that requires courage, determination, and unwavering commitment. We cannot stand by and watch as women like Olivia are persecuted and oppressed simply for speaking out.

Today, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, we must remember the countless comrades who are rotting in jail for no single crime whatsoever, Women like comrade Olivia Lutaaya, who have endured unimaginable pain and suffering because of her political beliefs.

Let us not shy away from the reality of the pain she undergoes, Let us be moved to tears by the sacrifices that women like Olivia have made. Let us feel the weight of her hardships and let her story touch our hearts.
But again let us not stop at tears. Let us be moved to action by her courage, resilience and most importantly her innocence in all this. Let us use her story as a call to action to fight for justice, equality, and freedom for all our comrades and women all over.

Women like Comrade Olivia Lutaaya should not have to endure violence, torture, and imprisonment simply because of their political beliefs.
Let us recreate a Uganda where women like Olivia can live their lives without fear, oppression, or injustice. Finally, Let us use this day to renew our commitment to the cause of women’s rights and to work together towards a brighter and more equitable future for this our country.

For all those already dressed in expensive outfits, driving expensive cars, women in high positions, if at all your empathy pulses still function, take a moment and reflect on this,
I remain JB Muwonge