Olivia Lutaaya, one of 19 National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters released from Luzira Women’s Prison today, has alleged continued harassment by state operatives despite their freedom.
Speaking emotionally upon her release, Lutaaya detailed a harrowing experience of coercion while in detention.
According to Lutaaya, the group was approached by Balaam Barugahara, who purportedly presented them with a grim ultimatum: plead guilty to trumped-up charges or face indefinite imprisonment.
“Balaam admitted the charges were fabricated but told us we had no choice. He promised us jobs, houses, and money if we complied,” she revealed.
Reacting on their release,Balaam said,“You cannot pardon someone who has not accepted their offence or pleaded guilty. These young people were willing to admit to their offences,” Mr Balaam Barugahara
The group ultimately succumbed to the pressure, choosing to plead guilty and serve their sentences to secure release. However, Lutaaya claimed their ordeal didn’t end there.
Outside the prison gates, she encountered a “drone” vehicle carrying heavily armed security personnel, allegedly intent on abducting her and other released individuals. She narrowly escaped by boarding a random boda boda, which took her directly to NUP headquarters.
“This regime continues to haunt us even after coercing us to plead guilty to fabricated charges,” Lutaaya lamented.
Her allegations highlight ongoing tension between NUP supporters and the government, with the opposition accusing the state of employing intimidation and indoctrination tactics to suppress dissent.
Lutaaya also accused authorities of attempting to take the group to Kyankwanzi for “indoctrination.”
NUP officials condemned the government’s actions, describing them as a blatant violation of human rights and political freedoms.
“The regime’s relentless persecution of our comrades, even after serving their sentences, is unacceptable and an affront to justice,” a party spokesperson stated.
Efforts to obtain a response from government representatives were unsuccessful by press time. However, similar allegations have previously been denied by officials, who often accuse the opposition of fabricating claims to gain sympathy.