Hundreds of people have been arrested and while some have been released, others have allegedly been tortured before appearing in courts.
Meanwhile, some relatives still do not know the fate or whereabouts of their family members.
Earlier this week, former presidential candidate and Kimanya-Kabonera constituency Member of Parliament, Abed Bwanika came out and proposed that the National Unity Platform- NUP, a party he subscribes to, should seek audience with President Yoweri Museveni to find solution for political prisoners.
The proposal has since caused a stir among NUP supporters and the opposition at large.
The majority oppose Bwanika’s advice, saying it will be ashaming to see their leaders (NUP) meet Museveni who they claim is the commander of the people who are perpetrating torture.
Others claim that by seeking an audience with Museveni, NUP would have surrendered their struggle to ‘Remove the Dictator.’
When this website contacted Bwanika to explain more about his proposal, the legislator said that the ongoing suppression of political opposition must be treated as a matter of national importance that needs urgent solution.
“I need freedom for the innocently incarcerated NUP supporters and the other opposition supporters caused by the NRM government,” he said.
He said that by sitting with Museveni, NUP will not have conceded defeat.
“We are not meeting Museveni to ask for forgiveness. We are engaging him to find a solution for our people who are rotting in jail,” Bwanika said.
He added, “Anyone with a better idea or solution from mine should bring it up to see that we save the innocent Ugandans. I can no longer be quiet.”
Bwanika revealed that he will officially be writing to his party leadership and formally explaining his proposal.
Our efforts to get comments from the NUP party secretariat were futile as the spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi and his deputy Alex Waiswa did not respond to our calls.
However, our sources in the party disclosed that the party leadership will hold a meeting today (Tuesday) before addressing the media.
