National Unity Platform’s (NUP) Olivia Lutaaya, has been released from custody after close to a year in detention over alleged unlawful drilling at the Party’s Makerere- Kavule headquarters in February last year.
While welcoming back Lutaaya from detention, the NUP Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya noted that she has paid a very heavy price for simply believing that Uganda deserves better.
“Out of the 6 years of @NUP_Ug, she has spent 5 years in detention at various times over trumped up charges. Despite the grave persecution she has endured, she is still committed to what she believes in. Welcome back comrade! Uganda will be free” he said.
Lutaaya’s releases comes a day after two NUP members Kato Paul and Kadonya, were also released from detention after 10 months imprisonment on the same charges.
“The two, who stood charged with ‘unlawful drilling’ were pushed into pleading guilty to crimes they didn’t commit so as to secure their freedom, given that after all this period on remand, their trial was yet to commence. Once again, we’re very grateful to all those who continue to stand with and demand for the release of all political prisoners!” Rubonya posted on X on Thursday.
In a post on his X account, NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine, noted that her imprisonment was unjustified.
“I am glad that her conviction has not been diminished by the criminal regime’s persistent persecution. I assured her that the immense sacrifice she, together with other comrades, have made for a better country will never be in vain” he said.
While addressing journalists following her release, Lutaaya urged for the release of other political prisoners, and vowed to continue supporting NUP.
“We who accepted the crimes were around, our colleagues who refused to accept the charges should be released, because honestly they were not around, we would like for them to be released” she said.
Lutaaya was remanded to Luzira Prison in November last year by the Kanyanya Magistrate’s Court, following her arrest in Mbarara City alongside over 100 NUP supporters after security forces ambushed and intercepted Bobi Wine’s convoy during the presidential campaigns, when it was en route to Bwizibwera in Mbarara where he had been scheduled to address his second campaign rally.
