A Ugandan military tribunal under the influence of President Yoweri Museveni convicted sixteen members of the opposition National Unity Platform Monday on charges of illegal possession of explosives and treachery, in proceedings their defense lawyer described as questionable.
The defendants, who have spent four years in detention, face sentencing Wednesday. Defense attorney Shamim Malende raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding their guilty pleas, which reversed previous denials of the charges.
Former singer and opposition leader Bobi Wine, whose legal name is Robert Kyagulanyi, alleged the accused were coerced into pleading guilty and seeking presidential pardons. “The accused have been blackmailed by state agents,” Wine told AFP. Media representatives were barred from attending the tribunal session.
Prosecutors alleged the opposition members possessed explosives between November 2020 and May 2021, during Uganda’s election period. Additional suspects remain at large, according to authorities.
The case highlights ongoing political tensions in Uganda, where President Museveni has maintained power since 1986. The country’s 2021 presidential election drew international criticism amid widespread allegations of fraud. Police violently suppressed demonstrations following Wine’s arrest during that period, resulting in at least fifty-four deaths.
Wine warned of future accountability, stating, “Whatever Museveni’s government is doing, one day all those under him including himself will be called to account.”
The convictions come amid growing concerns over political freedom in Uganda, where opposition figures have faced increasing pressure from government authorities.
