18 Missing NUP Members ,Bobi Wine To Appeal High Court Ruling Dismissing Case

The National Unity Platform (NUP) has announced its intention to appeal a recent High Court ruling that dismissed its petition seeking accountability from the Ugandan government for the disappearance of 18 party supporters.

NUP had approached the High Court in a bid to compel authorities to explain the whereabouts of its missing members, whom it alleges were abducted by security operatives in recent years.

In the case heard by Justice Esther Nambayo, NUP’s legal team presented what they described as compelling evidence.

This included video footage allegedly showing Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja acknowledging that one of the missing individuals, John Bosco Kibamala, was in state custody.

Additionally, family members of the missing persons provided emotional testimonies, describing their loved ones’ disappearances and their subsequent struggles to locate them.

The testimonies, NUP argued, reflected a persistent lack of government response regarding the fate and whereabouts of these individuals.

However, Justice Nambayo ruled that the evidence was insufficient to support NUP’s demands, stating, “I find no basis for making the declarations that have been sought, and as such, the following orders are made.”

In her October 29 ruling, she dismissed the petition, which NUP had hoped would lead to an official explanation or the release of its missing members.

The ruling has drawn criticism from NUP officials and human rights activists who contend that the court overlooked critical evidence.

NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, voiced the party’s disappointment during a press conference held at the NUP headquarters in Makerere Kavule.

“We shall not give up,” Kyagulanyi affirmed. “We are going to appeal the decision in the Court of Appeal, not because we hope for the best, but because we are trying to exhaust all the legal mechanisms available to seek justice for these individuals. This case is about basic human rights, and we will pursue it to its conclusion.”

Kyagulanyi highlighted the broader issue of forced disappearances in Uganda, asserting that the government should be held accountable for safeguarding citizens’ rights. He noted that the absence of accountability for these alleged abductions casts a dark shadow over Uganda’s human rights record.

George Musisi, a key NUP lawyer, explained the party’s expectations for the appeal. He expressed hope that the Court of Appeal will review the evidence more thoroughly and recognise the merit in NUP’s arguments.

“We are confident that the appeal court will take a closer look at the testimonies and video evidence and deliver a ruling that holds the government responsible for explaining what has happened to our missing members,” Musisi stated.

The petition originally filed by NUP focused on the right to liberty and security of the person, urging the judiciary to intervene in what they describe as a recurring pattern of forced disappearances affecting opposition supporters across the country.

NUP claims that numerous supporters have disappeared without explanation since the 2021 elections, with families reportedly facing intimidation when seeking information on their relatives.

The Court of Appeal is expected to consider the case in the coming months, with NUP hoping for a decision that will compel the government to provide clarity on the status of the missing 18 party members.