Setting the Record Straight: Mpuuga’s Unwavering Commitment to NUP Prisoners Revealed
Mathias Mpuuga, the former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LOP), has been deceitfully accused by a section of leaders of the National Unity Platform (NUP) of neglecting party prisoners’ issues during his tenure.
However, evidence proves otherwise. Both photos and Hansard, the Parliamentary record, from March 2021, show Mpuuga presenting issues related to NUP prisoners in Parliament, and visiting the same, including two MPs; Allan Ssewanyana, and Muhammad Ssegirinya who were released after nearly two years in prison.
Mpuuga’s advocacy for prisoners’ human rights and justice began even before becoming the LoP in March 2021.
The Nyendo-Mukungwe legislator, who was the NUP deputy president in charge of Buganda, presented a list of 423 missing persons on the floor of parliament, sparking a substantial debate into these issues by the Parliament, and prompting former Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to order a comprehensive statement from General Jeje Odongo, the former Internal Affairs Minister.
“We have received the Minister’s list, but it is not exhaustive, not even a tenth of the names presented by relatives of the missing persons is presented,” an unsatisfied Mpuuga said on behalf of an infant NUP at the time.
On February 3, 2022, after emerging the LoP, and accelerating his advocacy for freeing NUP prisoners, Mpuuga led the opposition MPs in a walkout, protesting “security operatives’ continued disregard for Ugandans’ rights.”
This resurrected the matter again during a plenary sitting chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, noting the increasing human rights violations and shrinking civic space.
Not Done
In May 2023, the former LOP raised the matters of the NUP prisoners on the floor, this time asking prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to explain his confirmation that she knew the whereabouts of NUP missing persons including John Bosco Kibalama, who disappeared in June 2019.
“…at the beginning of this House with your indulgence, I played a video in this house of parliament quoting the prime minister about a citizen that has disappeared for 3 years. The prime minister has been in office for 2 years. She made a comment that she is in a know of whereabouts of Kibalama, and she has never surrendered her for the public to see him.” Mpuuga said.
“Will the prime minister show the country where Kibalama, a husband of a woman and a father is? A citizen has disappeared and when I raise the voice, I have a reason to do it, because I have no response to give to Kibalama’s wife,” Mpuuga concluded.
Another Round Of Heated Debate on NUP Prisoners
The former LoP, severally argued the Parliament find a durable remedy to the problem of missing persons by debating and exposing the rampant systematic human rights violations.
He always challenged the government to account for the persons who went missing during the last general elections.
He also demanded accountability for the lives lost during the infamous November 2020 riots in which 54 people are believed to have been killed by the police and members of the security forces.
The security at the time indicated that only 11 of those who were killed were rioters while 42 died from “stray bullets”. In late November 2020, President Museveni tasked the police to conduct an audit into the stray bullet killings to investigate especially what could have been the purpose of the bullets before they turned into “stray bullets”.
Mpuuga severally decried the increasing human rights violations in the country marked by the shrinking civic space. He noted Uganda ranked among the worst performers in respecting, protecting, and promoting human rights on the globe.
Notably, Mpuuga during his heavy-worded response to a 17th October 2023 statement by the State Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi. Muhoozi who had defended security personnel for effecting a preventive arrest of the NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi.
Kyagulanyi was violently arrested at the Entebbe Airport earlier on 5 October just after he had disembarked from Rwanda Air.
Kyagulanyi was returning from what Gen. Muhoozi described as a ‘political mobilization tour from Canada and South America’.
Muhoozi said Kyagulanyi’s supporters mobilized to the Airport to welcome him, in a walk dubbed “One Million March” intended to incite civil disobedience.
“To avert the lawlessness that could result from this, the Police with other security forces, deployed proactively to prevent the mobilization for the illegal procession and anticipated associated mischief,” reads part of the statement to parliament.
However, Mpuuga described the Minister’s statement as “superficial, shallow, tainted with material falsehoods, misconstruction of the law, and an attempt to justify repression and clamp-down on political dissent in the country.”
According to Mpuuga, Gen. Muhoozi’s statement further depicted the Government’s reluctance to address and remedy human rights violations.
He invited the Parliament to recall the infamous November 2020 shootings in which many people lost their lives and scores were maimed.
Whereas the Government committed to have the matter investigated and audited, however, Mpuuga observed that all that has been achieved was the categorization of the victims into a cluster of 20 persons who were shot and killed by stray bullets while 34 others were shot and killed for allegedly participating in riots.
Mpuuga cited the deaths of Frank Ssenteza, a bodyguard to Kyagulanyi, and Rita Nabukenya whom he said were knocked dead by security vehicles. It is alleged that Ssenteza was knocked by a military police car registration H4DF-2382 at Busega roundabout while Nabukenya was rundown on a walkway by a police patrol car UP 4841.
“Is the House of Representatives too timid and cowed to demand from the relevant authority to make a proper account of both the happenings on the fateful days, as well as demanding justice to the victims’ families,” he said.
Mpuuga further named 22 Ugandans whom he claimed were murdered, whereas others were grievously injured while on Kyagulanyi’s campaign trail for the 2021 general elections. He pointed out that the relatives of the deceased are still reeling in bereavement with no hope of receiving justice for the death of their loved ones.
“Is the people’s Parliament complicit in these wanton murders, and therefore unable to demand accountability and justice,” he asked.
About the fate of 18 missing Ugandans, Mpuuga accused the Government of failing to account for their whereabouts while insisting that the persons were picked from their workplaces and homes by state security agencies. Early this month, the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) in a report on 30 missing NUP supporters revealed that they managed to trace to a conclusion 12 of the persons who were arrested and later released either on police bond or court bail.
The Commission said it failed to trace 18 of the alleged missing persons in the last 12 months and consequently closed their files. Bugabula North County Member of Parliament, John Teira suggested establishing an independent committee of parliament to handle the matter of missing persons so that both sides of the political divide present their grievances.
The Opposition also alleged victimization and targeted murder of Muslims. Mpuuga cited the shooting of Musa Mudasir alias Moze, Muhammad Kiryowa alias Musa Kiryowa, and Sheikh Muhammad Abbas Kirevu by security agencies while in handcuffs. The trio was suspects in the Kampala twin bombings on 16 November 2021.
Mpuuga also raised concern about emerging incidents of detention without trial. He said over 500 NUP supporters were arrested in different parts in 2021, and spent one year without trial.
He said over 50 suspects were still languishing at Kitalya, and Luzira prisons without trial while 28 of them had been produced at the army court-martial, but their trial had never been concluded more than 3 years after arrest at the time.
He demanded that the government account for all political prisoners in jails within 30 days. The opposition wants the government to release of all political prisoners being tried under the Court Martial.
Tayebwa, the deputy Speaker, directed the Minister for Internal Affairs to present to respond to Mpuuga’s statement within 30 days.
Key Highlights of Mpuuga’s Advocacy
- Demanding Accountability: Mpuuga pressed the government to account for missing persons and lives lost during the November 2020 riots
- Exposing Systematic Violations: He condemned the government’s reluctance to address human rights abuses, citing various cases
- Supporting Political Prisoners: Mpuuga demanded justice for 22 Ugandans murdered or injured during Kyagulanyi’s 2021 campaign trail
NUP leaders should drop undue propaganda against Mpuuga and engage in constructive debates aiding the country’s liberation struggle. Mpuuga’s legacy of work is well-documented, and his commitment to human rights and justice is undeniable.
Instead of focusing energy on pulling down Mpuuga, NUP leaders should work together to address pressing issues like detention without trial, victimization, and targeted murder.
“The power of the people is a resident in the House of Parliament, and nobody can repurpose it to sustain, maintain, and usurp the power of the people,” Mpuuga said on the floor of parliament during his advocacy for NUP prisoners’ rights.