The National Unity Platform (NUP)’s “Inspector General of Police” Sauda Madada has been released from detention after more than a year in custody without trial on charges of unlawful military drilling at the NUP offices in Makerere-Kavule, Kawempe Division early last year.
The party Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, who welcomed Madada back home at the NUP offices on Saturday, expressed delight at her release, but also condemned the continued denial of bail and trial for political prisoners.
“Very pleased to welcome back our sister and comrade Saudah Madaada who has spent one full year and nine days in detention. Glad to see that her spirit is not broken despite this long period of detention without trial” he said.
He added, “We all remember that Saudah suffered significant health challenges while in detention and we’re grateful to God that she is back alive. As we receive her with joy, we must continuously condemn the breakdown of the rule of law that has occasioned grave injustice to people like Saudah – to the point of being pushed to plead guilty to crimes they did not commit”.
Rubongoya further condemned the judicial system for failing to hold a trial for Madada and other NUP members still imprisoned over the charges of unlawful drilling.
“Saudah never stepped at Kavule on the day they claimed she was involved in military drills (not that anyone who was there actually committed any offence). And yet, she had to plead guilty after numerous unsuccessful bail attempts coupled with the failure to have a proper trial conducted” he said.
He added, “Total injustice! May we all continue working towards a society where all this suffering and impunity will come to an end”.
Following her release Madada expressed delight at her freedom after a year in detention.
“Am very happy to be out, Prison conditions aren’t easy, there are so many challenges, spending just two days in prison feels like you have served ten years. I thank everyone for your prayers and all who have been visiting us, especially in the women’s prison Luzira, leaving everything you do aside to visit us, thanks a lot” she said.
She further thanked the leader of opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi and NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine for offering them support throughout their detention.
Sauda Madada was last seen in public at Kanyanya Chief Magistrate’s court on November 18th last year, during bail proceedings for a group of National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters, when she vomited blood while being taken to the court cells by prison warders.
At the time, she was using a urinary catheter, which forced the Kanyanya chief magistrate Roselyn Nsenge, to stop the bail hearing and ordered for her treatment at Mulago Hospital.
She was arrested in September at the Uganda-Kenya border in Busia and transported back to Kampala for trial alongside 10 other NUP members including Edward Ssebufu alias Eddie Mutwe, NUP deputy spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, and ex-Jinja City mayoral aspirant, Bobi Giant, real name Tasi Calvin among others.
According to prosecution the group, without ministerial permission attended an unlawful military assembly at the NUP offices in Makerere-Kavule, Kawempe Division on February 12, 2025.
