National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) President Joseph Kiiza Kabuleta has petioned the Highcourt seeking to have the 32 detained NUP supporters and other people including UPDF soldiers detained for more than 90 days without trial to freed by the General Court Martial .
Kabuleta who is also battling sectarianism charges before the Nakawa Chief magistrates Court, noted that him and his party stand for good governance and protection of human rights but while furthering his party’ objectives, he discovered gross violation of the 32 suspects’ right to liberty and freedom.
Kabuleta made a decision to drag the Attorney General to Court accusing him of failing to render legal advise to the General Court Martial to correctly apply relevant sections of the UPDF Act ( 2005) in the performance of its work.
Through his lawyers of Nyanzi Kiboneka and Mbabazi company advocates, Kabuleta quotes section 190(3) of the UPDF Act which mandates that a detained UPDF officer must be freed by a commanding officer at the expiry of 90 days in detention if his/her trial has not yet kicked -off .
Kabuleta contends that since the 32 NUP supporters are civilians who were subjected to millitary law.
The 32 NUP supporters led by Rashid Ssegujja are being detained on charges of being in possession of ammuntion( petrol and explosives ) which is ordinarily a monopoly of only defence forces .
Kabuleta therefore wants court to declare that the continued detention and the on-going trial of the 32 suspects is illegal and they should be immediately and unconditionally set free as their release is over due since the 14th, August 2021 upon the expiry of the 90 days after their arrest in may 2021.
Justice Emmanuel Baguma has set the 27th/ January to hear Kabuleta’s application.
Report by : Betty Zziwa
