By Karim Were
KAMPALA** — Two female supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) have accepted plea bargain arrangements in cases before court, while a third, Doreen Kaija, has opted to continue challenging the charges against her.
The development was disclosed by NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya after he visited Olivia Lutaaya, Sauda Madaada and Doreen Kaija at Luzira Women’s Prison on Thursday.
According to Rubongoya, Lutaaya and Madaada pleaded guilty under plea bargain arrangements after spending several years in detention. He said the two women made the decision in the hope of regaining their freedom and are expected to complete their sentences within the coming months.
Rubongoya, however, maintained that the party believes the two women were innocent of the offences for which they were convicted.
He said Kaija had declined the plea bargain option and instead chose to continue defending herself in court, maintaining that she is not guilty of the charges against her.
Rubongoya added that the party’s legal team would continue pursuing all available legal avenues to support Kaija’s defence and seek her release through the judicial process.
During the visit, Lutaaya reportedly reflected on the National Unity Platform’s sixth anniversary, noting that she had spent only one year of the party’s existence outside prison, while the remaining five years had been spent in detention.
According to Rubongoya, Lutaaya said watching television coverage of the party’s anniversary celebrations from prison was an emotional experience that reminded her of the challenges faced by detained opposition supporters.
He said the three women expressed appreciation to NUP members and supporters who have continued to visit them, support their families and advocate for their release.
The cases involving the three women are among several involving opposition supporters that have attracted public attention in recent years.
While the National Unity Platform maintains that some of its supporters have been unfairly detained for political reasons, government has consistently maintained that all suspects are investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law, with the courts determining their cases independently.
