A military court in Uganda today sentenced 16 members of an opposition party to five years in prison for illegal possession of explosives and treason, the victims’ lawyer announced.
The defense intends to appeal the sentence, arguing that the defendants were victims of injustice, lawyer Shamin Malende told news agency France-Presse (AFP).
According to the accusation, the 16 members of the National Unity Platform (NUP), in the opposition, as well as others still on the run, were found in possession of explosives between November 2020 and May 2021, during the election period. .
They all pleaded guilty to the charges, but NUP leader Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, insists they were forced to do so and ask for a presidential pardon.
“We are looking at all options, including an appeal, because everything that happened to them is an injustice and we cannot allow injustice to prevail over innocent people,” said Shamin Malende.
The lawyer said that the court had previously decided that the sentence handed down would be reduced to three months and 22 days in prison, due to the years that had already passed since pre-trial detention.
Uganda has been ruled with an iron fist by President Yoweri Museveni since 1986. Bobi Wine and his NUP have been frequently targeted by authorities.
