A military court in Uganda has sentenced 16 members of the opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), to five years in prison on charges of illegal possession of explosive devices and ‘treachery’.

Lawyer representing the accused, Shamin Malende, confirmed the court ruling on Wednesday October 23, 2024.

The court had determined that the jail term will be reduced to three years and 22 days due to the years the defendants have already spent in custody while awaiting trial.

Malende indicated that the defense team is considering an appeal, arguing that the accused are victims of ‘injustice.’

The prosecution alleged that the defendants were found in possession of explosives between November 2020 and May 2021, during a period of heightened political tension in Uganda leading up to the elections.

While the 16 members pleaded guilty to the charges, NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, commonly known as Bobi Wine, claimed that the pleas were coerced, and the defendants were pressured to seek a presidential pardon.

Malende emphasized that the defense team is actively exploring all options, including an appeal, stating, “All that has happened to them is injustice, and we can’t allow injustice to prevail over innocent people.”

This sentencing comes amid ongoing political tensions in Uganda, where dissenting voices against the government are often met with harsh reprisals.

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