National Unity Platform (NUP) has defended the decision by some of its detained supporters to enter plea bargains, saying the move should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt but rather as a legal avenue to secure freedom after years of detention without trial.
In a statement issued, the opposition party said more than 150 of its supporters remain in detention on what it described as politically motivated charges, with some having spent years behind bars awaiting trial.
According to NUP, its legal team has consistently pursued lawful means to secure the release of detained members and has successfully obtained the release of hundreds of supporters who were arrested during and after the recent elections.
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8th July, 2026
STATEMENT ON PLEA BARGAINS INVOLVING SOME NUP POLITICAL PRISONERS
As the nation knows, over 150 supporters of the National Unity Platform are currently in detention over trumped-up charges. Some of these comrades have been in prison for years.
However, the party said repeated bail denials and recent remarks by President Yoweri Museveni regarding the granting of bail have left some detainees with little choice but to accept plea bargains or plead guilty in order to regain their freedom.
“By taking this step, these our comrades are not in any way admitting that they committed any offences, but they consider it to be the quickest path available for them to get out of the long periods of detention without trial,” the statement reads.
NUP emphasized that while it does not encourage anyone to incriminate themselves, it does not condemn supporters who choose plea bargaining through established legal procedures after enduring prolonged detention.
The party urged its supporters and the public to understand the difficult circumstances facing detainees, stressing that those who opt for plea bargains should not be stigmatized upon their release.
At the same time, NUP paid tribute to supporters who continue to maintain their innocence and remain in detention while awaiting trial, describing them as even bigger heroes deserving of recognition and support.
The statement comes amid ongoing debate over prolonged pre-trial detention.
