The Kawempe Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded 34 supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) to Luzira Prison until March 7 after charging them with public nuisance, obstruction of traffic, and malicious damage to property.
Among those remanded is Kyadondo East MP Muwada Nkunyingi, Makindye East MP Derrick Nyeko, and several other party supporters.
The group was arrested on Monday near the NUP headquarters in Makerere-Kavule, Kampala, as they prepared to join a procession for the campaign rally of Erias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, the NUP flagbearer in the Kawempe North parliamentary by-election.
Grade One Magistrate William Muwonge ruled that the accused disrupted traffic and damaged a police car.
The prosecution alleged that they walked in the middle of the road shouting party slogans while holding stones, which, according to the court, posed a danger and caused public inconvenience.
All the accused denied the charges. Many of them appeared in court with visible injuries, prompting their lawyer, Medard Ssegona, to request bail so they could receive medical treatment.
However, the court denied bail for most of them, except for five supporters—Derrick Nyeko, Benjamin Kakooza Kato, Abdul Kakiire, Peter Mutebi, and Samuel Kalule.
Mr. George Musisi, another NUP lawyer, condemned the security forces for allegedly torturing the detained supporters, including women.
He accused masked operatives from the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT) of brutality and announced plans to sue JATT and the Attorney General for the alleged mistreatment.
The remaining NUP supporters will stay behind bars until their next court appearance on March 7.
