After spending more than four years in prison, 16 supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda’s opposition party, made a significant move on Monday by reversing their plea to “guilty.”
They are accused of unlawful possession of 13 explosive devices and treachery.
Their plea change came during a closed-door session at the General Court Martial in Makindye, chaired by Brigadier General Freeman Mugabe.
The shift in plea has marked a turning point in a long-running case that has garnered national attention, following their arrest during the tense 2021 presidential campaign period.
The court proceedings continue to unfold, with sentencing scheduled for October.
A Dramatic Shift in Court
Previously, 14 of the defendants had expressed their desire to change their plea from “not guilty” to “guilty,” prompting Brigadier General Mugabe to adjourn the case. However, when the group reappeared on Monday, the number of those reversing their plea increased to 16. The remaining nine defendants maintained their original “not guilty” stance.
The 16 individuals now pleading guilty include Rashid Ssegujja, Robert Rugumayo, Muhymdin Kakooza, Simon Kijjambu, Abdul Matovu, Olivia Lutaaya, Mesearch Kiwanuka, Ibrahim Wandera, Asbert Nagwere, Steven Musakulu, Sharif Matovu, Devis Mafabi, Livingston Katushabe Kigozi, Swaibu Katabi, and Stanley Lwanga.
These individuals join three others—Siraje Obalayi, Joseph Muganza, and Paul Muwanguzi—who had already entered guilty pleas earlier in the proceedings.
Appeal for Presidential Pardon
As the 16 accused were escorted out of court on Monday, a striking moment unfolded. The group collectively knelt before the authorities, pleading for a presidential pardon.
Their remorse was palpable, with one of the defendants, Muhymdin Kakooza, standing out due to his visible expression of regret.
Wearing a yellow t-shirt emblazoned with President Yoweri Museveni’s image, Kakooza spoke on behalf of the group.
“We sincerely apologize for our mistakes,” he said. “Unfortunately, we were deceived by Bobi Wine [Robert Kyagulanyi], who used us for his personal financial benefit. We take full responsibility for our actions, and we affirm that our guilty pleas were made voluntarily, without coercion. We hope to learn from this experience and to avoid similar situations in the future.”
This statement marked a stark contrast to Kakooza’s earlier defiant stance. A former diehard supporter of Bobi Wine, Kakooza had previously been sentenced to eight months in prison for attempting to attack Brigadier General Mugabe during a heated court session in April 2024.
On that occasion, Kakooza had jumped out of the dock in protest after the court denied the group’s bail application for the third time.
A Shift in Allegiance
Kakooza’s sudden change of tone highlights a broader narrative of regret and shifting political loyalties. In the April 2024 court session, Kakooza had delivered an impassioned speech, declaring that he and his fellow supporters would not beg President Museveni for their freedom, despite facing serious charges.
“We won’t beg President Museveni for our freedom. It is okay if you want to kill us for trying to fight for our country,” Kakooza had declared. “You arrested us for trying to protect Kyagulanyi’s votes [during the 2021 presidential elections], and now you expect us to beg you to return our freedom! What crime did we commit? We will not relent.”
However, on Monday, his rhetoric was one of repentance and acknowledgment of poor judgment in aligning with Bobi Wine during the politically charged campaign period.
The Charges: Explosive Devices and Treachery
The group first came under legal scrutiny following their arrest in December 2020 in Kalangala District while they were part of Bobi Wine’s presidential campaign trail.
They were initially charged with the unlawful possession of 13 explosive devices, a charge which was later supplemented with allegations of treachery.
According to the prosecution, between November 2020 and May 2021, the accused were found in possession of the devices across several locations, including Jinja, Mbale, Kireka, Nakulabye, Kawempe, Nateete, and Kampala Central.
These devices are classified as military-grade explosives, ordinarily under the exclusive control of the Ugandan defence forces.
Repeated Bail Denials
The defendants’ legal battles have been protracted. Over the course of their detention, the group has made multiple attempts to secure bail.
However, their applications were consistently denied, with the military court citing inadequate sureties as the primary reason for the refusals.
In response, eight opposition Members of Parliament and a city mayor stepped forward, offering to stand as sureties for the accused, but even these high-profile backers were not enough to sway the court’s decision.
Enter Bobi Wine And NUP Honchos
Bobi Wine
Today, I have learned that 19 of the original 32 political prisoners on the #OliviaLutaaya file have succumbed to regime coercion and pleaded guilty to crimes they did not commit after enduring nearly four years of detention without trial.
It has also come to light that Mr. Museveni’s minister, Balaam, visited these political prisoners on Saturday —a non-visitation day— and pressured them to plead guilty and seek Museveni’s forgiveness or else they would never leave prison.
It is worth noting that, while we have been routinely blocked from visiting these comrades, regime operatives have had unrestricted access to them during which they have held long, recorded conversations and exercised undue influence over them.
Even the few times we have met them have always been brief and conducted in the presence of security operatives and prison warders who insisted on listening to every word of our conversation.
This blatant abuse of rights and misuse of power must make us all to put today’s events in their proper context and therefore understand instead of judging these comrades.
They have spent nearly 4 years in jail without trial, and without any evidence being presented against them.
By the time the comrades were forced to drop our legal team which had represented them since 2021, the lawyers had taken every step in the book to secure their freedom but without success.
The regime always made it clear that this was not a legal case but a political one. They were forced to abandon their lawyers and adopt UPDF lawyers!
While we understand the frustration and desperation of those who have pleaded guilty, I salute their 9 other fellow prisoners of conscience who continue to demand a fair trial or their freedom.
The day of justice is near. WE SHALL OVERCOME!
Lewis Lubongoya
This afternoon while we were at the General Court Martial meeting the NUP political prisoners, Gen. Museveni’s minister Balaam came in to see them!
They told us that he went to Kitalya and Luzira prisons on Saturday and met with them. He told them to plead guilty and apologize to Gen. Museveni if they want their freedom.
Resultantly, most of them have given in and pleaded guilty including Olivia Lutaaya and Saanya Muhuydin.
Only 9 of them have thus far stuck to their guns and refused to plead guilty. These are Ssekitoleko Yasin Machete, Patrick Mwase, Sharif Kalanzi, Joseph Muwonge, Abdallah Kintu, Umar Emma Kato, Kavuma Musa, Jimmy Galukande and Gibusiwa Abdallah.
Even these nine, the regime is pressuring them to plead guilty. Rightfully, they’re asking the regime to produce evidence against them and try them.
The regime has of course deliberately used this military court to keep them in jail without trial. The ones who have pleaded guilty told us they only did this because THEY’RE TIRED of the long detention with no end in sight.
After close to four years of detention without trial, anyone can understand the frustration and despair.
Such a travesty of justice!
Political Backdrop: Arrest Amid Presidential Campaign
The timing of the group’s arrest coincided with one of Uganda’s most contested and violent presidential campaigns in recent history. The 2021 election pitted long-time incumbent President Museveni against Bobi Wine, a popular musician-turned-politician. Wine’s campaign galvanized the youth and opposition, with tensions running high across the country.
The group was arrested in Kalangala District, an opposition stronghold, during a campaign rally for Bobi Wine. The charges of possession of explosives and treachery were added later, amplifying the political dimensions of the case.
Next Steps: Awaiting Sentencing
The case has now moved into a critical phase, with the accused scheduled to return to court on October 21 for sentencing. The plea changes will likely have significant implications for the group’s future, as their previous stance of defiance has given way to an appeal for leniency.
As the court considers their pleas and expressions of remorse, the broader political context of the case continues to stir debate in Uganda. Many see this case as emblematic of the larger struggle between the government and opposition forces in the country.
