Africa-Press – Uganda. The National Unity Platform (NUP) has sharply condemned what it describes as a troubling escalation in political persecution, following the court appearances and charging of senior party members amid growing allegations of abductions and intimidation.
In a series of posts on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and NUP Spokesperson, Joel Ssenyonyi, strongly criticised the state’s handling of NUP officials and supporters.
Ssenyonyi highlighted the contradiction between official denials and subsequent actions by security agencies, arguing that the government is weaponising the judiciary to suppress dissent.
“Last week the state, while in court, denied having abducted and detained the NUP Deputy President‐Western, Jacklyn Jolly Tukamushaba. Now they are producing her in court and charging her with ‘inciting people to attack NRM supporters.’ The ironic thing is that while our Presidential candidate campaigned in Western Uganda, NRM goons attacked our supporters with sticks and stones… but none of them to this day has ever been arrested or charged!!,” he wrote.
Ssenyonyi added that other senior NUP members, including Lina Zedriga and John Mary Ssebuwufu, had been out of public reach for weeks, held in undisclosed military detention despite repeated denials by authorities.
“The state denied having them, but we kept demanding for them to be produced because we knew they had them in spite of the pretense! Now they have all been quietly taken to court and slapped with ridiculous charges of inciting violence! Time will absolve us as a citizenry, TIME!,” he wrote.
The remarks were echoed on social media by NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, who described the circumstances of recent court appearances as a “sickening abuse of power,” and raised serious procedural concerns.
“Dr. Lina Zedriga remanded till 17th. Hon. Jolly Jacklyn Tukamushaba remanded till the 24th. Both produced without the knowledge of their lawyers. Comrade Ssebuwufu is at Nakawa Court. Sickening abuse of power,” he said.
These comments followed the arraignment of Jolly Jackline Tukamushaba, the Deputy President of the NUP for the Western Region, before a Kabale based Court. She was remanded to prison until February 24, 2026, on charges that she allegedly incited members of the public to commit acts of violence, contrary to Section 79(1) of the Penal Code Act, Cap 128.
Prosecutors allege that she encouraged violent acts in several Western Uganda districts between December 2025 and January 2026, including urging attacks on supporters of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
The Vice‐President for Northern Uganda, Lina Zedriga, appeared before the Gulu Magistrates Court but was not allowed to plead, with prosecutors saying investigations were ongoing. She was remanded until February 17, 2026 pending further mention of the case.
Additionally, Outgoing Butambala County Member of Parliament and National Unity Platform (NUP) Deputy President for Buganda, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi was arrested on Thursday, January 22, 2026, in connection with alleged acts of political violence linked to the January 15, 2026 general elections in Butambala District.
He was later arraigned before the Butambala Chief Magistrate’s Court, where he was charged with terrorism. During Tuesday’s court session, the state amended the charge sheet, adding 24 other suspects to the case.
According to the prosecution, Kivumbi and his co-accused are alleged to have been involved in violent actions during the election period, which resulted in the deaths of seven people.
Prosecutors maintain that the alleged acts meet the legal threshold for terrorism.
The court subsequently remanded Kivumbi and the 24 other suspects until February 17, 2026, to allow for further investigations.
These developments come amid heightened political tensions following Uganda’s January 15, 2026 general election. The election, won by long‐time incumbent President Museveni, has been criticised by the opposition and international observers, with allegations of intimidation, arrests, and abductions of NUP members and supporters.
National Unity Platform leadership and supporters have repeatedly alleged that hundreds of party members have faced detention or disappearance — claims echoed by party officials, though authorities have offered limited comment on these allegations.
In response to the recent court actions, NUP officials and civil society advocates warn that the trend of detaining opposition figures on charges they describe as politically motivated threatens civil liberties, undermines democratic processes, and erodes confidence in judicial independence.
