Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine and leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has released the names of 46 civilians currently facing trial in a military court, accusing the government of holding them in politically motivated detentions.
Bobi Wine has called for the immediate release of these detainees, arguing that their continued imprisonment is unlawful, especially in light of a Supreme Court ruling made over two weeks ago.
The court had ordered the transfer of their cases to civilian courts, but Kyagulanyi asserts that the government has disregarded this decision and continues to hold them in what he calls “illegal detention.”
He further criticized the government for its failure to comply with the court’s order, urging the Ugandan public to take action and end what he described as “this madness.”
Prominent political prisoners listed by Kyagulanyi include opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, former presidential candidate, and Hajj Obeid Lutale. Other detainees named are Agaba Anthony (aka Bobi Young), Ssekitoleko Yasin Machete, Sharif Kalanzi, and many others, who are allegedly imprisoned due to their political views.
Kyagulanyi’s call for justice has resonated with human rights organizations, which have raised alarms over what they see as government overreach and abuses of power. Among the other names on the list are Joseph Muwonge, Abdallah Kintu, and Umar Kato, whom Kyagulanyi claims were targeted for their political beliefs.
The political situation in Uganda has become increasingly tense, with opposition groups accusing the government of using military courts to suppress dissent and silence critics of President Yoweri Museveni’s administration.
The detention of civilians without due process has drawn concern from international human rights groups, who are calling for greater accountability from the Ugandan government.
As the situation unfolds, the demand for the release of political prisoners and the call for justice remain central to the country’s political discourse. Kyagulanyi has vowed to continue fighting for the detainees’ release and has urged the international community to exert pressure on Uganda to respect the rule of law.
The Supreme Court ruling, issued on January 31, 2025, declared that the General Court Martial is a disciplinary body for the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and has no jurisdiction over civilians. Chief Justice Alphonse Owiny-Dollo, in delivering the judgment, emphasized that military courts cannot offer fair and impartial trials for civilians.
Despite this ruling, Dr. Kizza Besigye, who was arrested in Nairobi in November 2024 and later transferred to Uganda, remains in military detention. Besigye faces charges of illegal possession of a firearm and treason, and his trial before a military tribunal has been widely condemned by rights groups as a violation of both legal norms and the Supreme Court’s decision.
President Museveni has criticized the court’s ruling, insisting that military courts are necessary for handling certain cases involving armed suspects. His son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, echoed this stance in a post, stating, “Ugandans are beginning to understand that in this country there is only one power! Field Marshal Yoweri Museveni. We will protect him and obey him to the end. People in red gowns and
