Members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) have been remanded to Kitalya and Luzira Prisons for a period of two weeks, on charges of terrorism.
The 36 who were arrested from Kisumu on 23rd July 2024 were paraded at Kololo Airstrip on 24th over allegations of plotting against the country.
The Director Liaison and Protocol in ESO, Paul Mugisha told the media that the Kenyan security agencies picked the Ugandans and handed them over. “They had wanted to arrest them and take them, but because of the collaboration we have, they decided to contact us…”
Prosecution alleges that Makokha Samuel, Nkonge Charles, Nasur Din Basalirwa, Waiswa Latif Maido, Bainomugisha Adios Denmark, and Muhinda Ronald, among others between 22nd and 23rd July travelled from various places in Uganda to Kisumu in the Republic of Kenya for the purpose of providing or receiving terrorist training.” The charge sheet read.
It comes on the background of protests against corruption targeting Parliament that President Yoweri Museveni says are targeting his government.
“That demonstration had two bad elements. Element no. 1 was funding from foreign sources that are always meddling in the internal affairs of Africa. The second element was that some of the authors and participants were planning very bad things against the people of Uganda.” The president posted on X.
The activists, that were not part of the FDC group, that have been presented before the courts have been charged with flimsy charges like idle and disorderliness, and being a public nuisance.
According to Kiiza Besigye, a long time FDC leader and opposition activist, the 36 were arrested on 23rd July by both Ugandan Security forces and the Kenyan military from their training residence at the Ukweri Catholic Pastoral Centre in Kisumu.
“Their properties were confiscated. They were tortured and several injured during and after the arrest. They were detained in ESO’s safe houses until they were brought to Kololo grounds and to be paraded before media as having been handed over by Kenyan government for engaging in suspicious circumstances.” Besigye’s statement further read.
Speaking to the media yesterday, the Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and leader of the FDC faction at Katonga asked the security forces to release the captives, since the 48-hour rule for holding suspects was over.
“These people were arrested on 24th July, its now 28th, the 48hr rule is already violated. The constitution dictates that you tell them upon arrest, the charges you have against them, that never happened. Even as they keep them, they have not been told of their offices.”
We are going to issue a protest note to the Kenyan authorities through their embassy on this matter. Because they had a duty, after admitting our colleagues within their territory, they had a duty of giving them the protection they required. Do they know what happened to the people they allowed to be driven away?”
The Anti-Terrorism Act, 2002 defines terrorism as any act intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling a government to do, or abstain from doing any act.
It is punishable by death, or life imprisonment.
