Many have questioned the appointment of Balaam and yet many have also approved of it, but one thing you can be sure of is, Balaam Barugahara knows where the power in this country lies. During the swearing-in ceremony of new ministers at State House Entebbe, did not waste time but to deliver NUP Councilor to Museveni and on that note Museveni expressed willingness to pardon certain opposition figures currently detained.
Museveni quickly placed a verdict and specified that, “We can reconsider cases of individuals involved in actions like road blockades and assaults,” referring to NUP supporters implicated in violent incidents during the 2021 elections. However, he noted, “Those accused of serious crimes like murder will face difficulty in obtaining freedom.”
The President’s announcement came after State Minister of Gender and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, introduced Ali Kateregga, a Masaka NUP Councillor, who appealed for the release of jailed suspects and pledged support for the ruling party.
Museveni indicated he would grant clemency under the condition that the released individuals commit to abstaining from unlawful activities, emphasizing the government’s expenditure on infrastructure and citizen safety.
Recently, the court martial acquitted two out of eleven NUP supporters charged with terrorism and manufacturing explosive devices during the turbulent 2021 elections.
Opposition legislators have abstained from parliamentary sessions since October, demanding the release of their detained supporters.
Earlier promises by Balaam to petition the President for the release of young opposition supporters, particularly those affiliated with NUP, have materialized.
In 2021, former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga, revealed over 500 NUP supporters had been arrested across the country on various allegations. Many were detained for a year without trial.
Mpuuga also demanded accountability for the reported deaths of 22 NUP supporters during party president Robert Kyagulanyi’s campaign trail in 2021, highlighting the grief of their families and the lack of justice.
Additionally, he called out the government’s failure to address the disappearance of several individuals over the past four years, allegedly abducted by state security forces, stressing that only the state can provide answers regarding their whereabouts.
