The Ugandan government has expressed determination to charge National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters and close associates of presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, before the Court Martial.
“If you are a civilian and engage in acts that are the preserve of the army or possess weapon/equipment designated by the army, then you are subject to military law,” said Defence Minister, Adolf Mwesigye this Friday morning.
A Group of 46 NUP supporters were arrested recently arrested from Kalangala district on charges of engaging in acts of violence.
They were further accused of being involved in continuous acts of impunity, lawlessness and political violence, during the ongoing campaigns and electoral events.
The team, which will today appear before Makindye General Court Martial, had remained in custody despite being granted bail by the Masaka Chief Magistrate Charles Yeteise on earlier this week.
Bobi Wine has since accused security agencies of frustrating his campaigns by arresting his close aides and supporters.
“Today they arrested all the 23 members of our new campaign team and impounded the cars. They thought they had broken our back. I literally went to Namayingo alone. But this is how we were received,” said Bobi as he posted on social media pictures of large crowds following his convoy.
“The wave is unstoppable,” he added.
Addressing a joint security press briefing in Kampala, Minister Mwesigye said, “There is no institutional policy of UPDF that some candidates are preferred over the others.”
He added: “What the UPDF is interested in is a system of having a free and fair election and no compromise to the security of Uganda.”
Uganda Prisons Commissioner General Johnson Byabashaija confirmed that the Prisons Authority had been ordered to deliver the suspects to the General Court Martial.
He said, “We also we received (Production Warrant) from General Court Martial. We acted accordingly. You can’t take suspects to court when you know you are to bring them back to custody,”
It was still unclear what charges the NUP supporters were likely to face before the army court.
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