Parliament has directed the immediate release of particulars of the missing opposition supporters to the new Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Dr. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi.

While presiding over the plenary session on Thursday, April 4, 2024, the deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, directed the Clerk to Parliament to provide a copy of the list of missing and arrested persons as requested by Balaam.

On Wednesday, during his maiden address in Parliament, Minister Balaam tasked LoP Ssenyonyi with providing him with the list of missing opposition supporters and pledged to follow the matter.

“I, as the Minister of Youth, have come to request the release of these youth in prisons. However, I come not solely as a representative of the NRM but rather as a Minister of Youth. President Museveni has given a chance to NUP youth in prisons to be released on bail, but the NUP leaders have failed to provide the list,” Minister Balaam said.

Minister Balaam added that President Museveni recently directed him to focus on the mindset change of youth, including those in the opposition.

“In my recent meeting with the President, he gave me four key areas of focus: transforming the youth, teaching patriotism, and fighting against corruption,” said the minister.

The NUP leadership recently claimed that over 100 of their supporters were being detained in various facilities by the government. LoP Joel Ssenyonyi said he hopes the missing persons can be released by the state since they have been held in detention for a long time.