Uganda Today Edition: 22 NUP Supporters Granted Bail After Brutal JATT Arrests
By Uganda Today News Desk
Kampala – The 22 National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters who were brutally arrested and beaten by the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JATT) at Makerere Kavule NUP headquarters have been granted bail by court, despite strong objections from the state attorney.
Among the accused were Makindye East Member of Parliament Derrick Nyeko, Kyaddondo East MP Muwada Nkunyingi, and several councillors who were apprehended while heading to Kawempe ku Ttaano for a rally in support of Elias Nalukoola Luyimbazi, the NUP flag bearer in the Kawempe North by-election.
Court Defies State Objection
The state attorney had objected to their release, arguing that the suspects were a threat to public order and that granting them bail would encourage further political mobilization. However, the presiding magistrate ruled in favor of the accused, citing their constitutional right to bail and the lack of substantial evidence to justify prolonged detention.
“The law is clear—every accused person is entitled to bail unless there are compelling reasons to deny it. The state has failed to present such reasons,” the magistrate stated.
Brutality at Makerere Kavule
Witnesses say that JATT operatives, alongside police officers, descended on the group with excessive force, beating and arresting them in broad daylight. Footage circulating on social media shows some of the arrested individuals with swollen faces, bruises, and torn clothes as they were bundled into police vans.
“They attacked us as if we were criminals,” said one of the released supporters. “We were simply going to exercise our right to campaign for our candidate.”
Growing Condemnation of Security Forces
The violent arrests and subsequent court proceedings have sparked outrage from human rights activists, opposition politicians, and the general public. Many have decried the increasing use of security forces to stifle opposition activities, especially during electoral periods.
NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) condemned the brutality, stating that it was yet another example of the state’s fear of free and fair elections. “They beat us, jail us, and intimidate us, but they cannot stop the will of the people,” he said in a statement.
With the by-election drawing closer, the political atmosphere in Kawempe North remains tense, as NUP opposition figures continue to face hurdles in their bid to reach voters.
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