NUP Councilor Appeals To President Museveni For Release Of Political Prisoners Detained During 2021 General Elections As Eid Gift

In a poignant plea during the swearing-in ceremony of the new State Minister of Gender, Youth, and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, A li Kateregga, an NUP councilor from Masaka City, urged President Museveni to consider the release of NUP political prisoners detained during the 2021 general elections.

Kateregga, one of the five members of NUP’s executive in Masaka, emphasized the need for rehabilitation for these individuals, many of whom, he claimed, were misled by opportunistic politicians. Speaking from State House Entebbe, he implored President Museveni to grant clemency, framing it as the “biggest Eid gift” the President could bestow upon the nation.

“Mr. President, I’m here to humbly request you to look into the matter of releasing all the people who were politically imprisoned. Most of these youths were misled by opportunistic politicians. But I’m here to humbly ask you to release them. Have them rehabilitated and taught to love their country. I myself pledge to support your government because we were being misled. As a member of NUP’s Executive in Masaka, I know that the politicians we followed amount to no good,” stated Mr. Ali Kateregga.

President Museveni responded promising to review the cases, with a focus on releasing those without capital offenses. However, he cautioned that individuals involved in acts such as burning tires or damaging roads may not be eligible for release.

Kateregga’s plea has garnered widespread applause from many quarters, with some lauding his bravery in taking action where the NUP hierarchy has not. However, criticism has also emerged, with some suggesting that such appeals should not be necessary.