DA Coordinator Mpuuga Slams President Museveni’s Bail, Bond Ban

Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga, the Democratic Alliance (DA) coordinator, has launched a scathing attack on President Yoweri Museveni’s recent directive to ban bail and police bonds for criminals.

Mpuuga’s verbal salvo came during the DA’s January 4th press conference, where he accused Museveni of merely reminding the nation of his longstanding grip on power.

According to Mpuuga, Museveni’s directive was nothing new, as he had been implementing it all along.

“You have been reporting about so many that are in jail for more than four years without going to court for more than two, three, and four years… Did he have to make an announcement?” Mpuuga queried. He also pointed out that many citizens had been languishing in police cells, including those who had been maimed.

Mpuuga’s ire was sparked by Museveni’s New Year’s message, in which the President declared his intention to ban bail and police bonds for criminals, including those stealing coffee from farmers’ fields. Museveni’s move was ostensibly aimed at curbing the rising tide of criminality in various communities.

“I have asked the chief Judge to stop court bail for such people. But for police, I have banned bond, because I have authority over them as the Commander-in-chief,” Museveni said on December 31, 2024.

However, Mpuuga saw through Museveni’s rhetoric, calling it a thinly veiled attempt to tighten his grip on power.

“The only issue General Museveni was reminding the country of was that he is still at it… probably reminding political actors in all spaces that he is probably going to heighten his stronghold on the state structure,” Mpuuga asserted.

Mpuuga’s criticism of Museveni’s directive was not just about the President’s motives-it was also about the human cost of such a policy. He cited the cases of young activists who had been languishing in jail for years, including those who had gone missing.

“You have been reporting about so many that are in jail for more than four years without going to court for more than two, three, and four years including those that he released at the Court Martial in suspicious legal circumstances. Did he have to make an announcement?” he added.

“You are also aware that there are so many other citizens that have been in police cells including those that have been maimed in police cells…” Mpuuga reminded Ugandans.

Mpuuga emphasized the need for the nation to come together to demand an end to impunity and abuse of state power by Museveni and his people.

“We call upon all and sundry to follow, and demand that General Museveni henceforth stops the abuse of state power and the interference with the operations of the judiciary.”