The General Court Martial in Makindye has sentenced 16 supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) who admitted guilt to charges of treachery to 4 months. The court ruled that the group will serve 3 months and 22 days in prison.
Originally sentenced to five years, the court considered several factors, including the 3 years and 8 months the group had already spent on remand, the 16 months they endured attending trial, their guilty pleas, and the fact that many of them are the primary providers for their families. Based on these circumstances, the Military Court reduced their sentence to 3 months and 22 days.
Despite the court’s ruling, the convicted individuals expressed their anguish, pleading for a presidential pardon.
Among those convicted are Olivia Lutaaya, Kakooza Muhydin, Rashid Ssegujja, David Mafabi, Robert Christopher Rugumayo, and Abdul Matovu. Others include Messarch Kiwanuka, Simon Kijambu, Ibrahim Wandera, Stanley Lwanga, Steven Musaakaru, Ronald Kijjambu, Asubat Nagwere, Livingstone Katushabe, Matovu Sharif, and Swaibu Katabi.
On Monday, October 21, 2024, the group admitted to being in possession of 13 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) between November 2020 and May 2021. These devices, they acknowledged, are restricted for use solely by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
In addition to this, they confessed to recruiting and providing military training to others, all with the intention of overthrowing the Ugandan government during the same period. The court found these actions occurred in various locations, including Jinja, Mbale, Kireka, Nakulabye, Kawempe, Nateete, and Kampala Central.
Although they have been sentenced, the group’s pleas for leniency underscore the difficult circumstances many of them face as they leave behind young families to serve their time in prison.
