The National Unity Platform (NUP) party Secretary General, Lewis Rubongoya and the Party Spokesperson, Joel Ssenyonyi have been arrested by Uganda Police and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) as they attempted to host prayers at the party offices in Kamwokya.
Rubongoya and Ssenyonyi were arrested on Monday morning, October 9, 2023, alongside other party supporters who had chosen to celebrate Independence Day by holding special prayers for the many people allegedly killed by the government of Uganda, but also praying for those arrested, those still missing and have never been seen.
On arrest, the two were whisked from Kamwokya to Kiira Road Police station where they were kept for most of the day.
According to Betty Nambooze, the Mukono Municipality Member of Parliament, the charges preferred against her colleagues are tramped up and they deserve to be free.
“Our colleagues have been arrested for nothing and we shall stay here and wait and see what the charges against them are, and we will see how to proceed,” Nambooze said.
“Today, we are celebrating 61 years of independence but we still have such acts of impunity on citizens of Uganda. Is this independence worth celebrating if you can’t stand for what is right and point out the wrongs?” Nambooze added.
The arrest of top party leaders and other party members has come at a time when the NUP President, Robert Kyagulanyi was whisked away last week after landing at Entebbe International Airport aboard Rwanda Air as he touched base from his tour abroad.
Majid Kaweesi, a boda-boda operator in Kamwokya said that, the heavy security deployment in the area has not only cut off business but also left many scared and traumatized.
“By now, I would have made like 20,000 Uganda shillings but with this road closed and condoned off by security, then I surely haven’t made any coin and it’s not me, but all business as you can see they are closed and not good for us with loans,” Kaweesi said.
Rubongoya and colleagues are to be arraigned in court later in the day, but if granted bond, they will be free. If not, they will be produced in court to answer to charges preferred against them.
The National Independence celebrations were on October 9th celebrated in Kitgum district under the theme Sustaining a United and Progressive Nation, Taking Charge of Our Future as a Free Nation.
