Summary:

• Opposition leaders from various parties in Uganda came together during year-end prayers at the National Unity Platform headquarters, pledging support for justice in cases of political persecution and condemning human rights abuses, while also expressing disappointment at the absence of religious leaders at the event.

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During a collective year-end prayer event held at the National Unity Platform (NUP) headquarters in Kampala yesterday, leaders from the Katonga faction of the Forum for Democratic Change, Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Uganda Peoples Congress, and Conservative Party (CP) pledged their support for NUP’s quest for justice concerning victims of political persecution.

Leaders from Uganda’s major Opposition parties attribute the failure to secure justice for individuals arrested, abducted, or killed due to their political beliefs to a lack of unity among them.

At the joint year-end prayers conducted at the NUP headquarters in Kampala, representatives from the Katonga faction of the Forum for Democratic Change, Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Uganda Peoples Congress, and Conservative Party (CP) affirmed their commitment to endorse NUP’s pursuit of justice for victims of political persecution.

These victims include the 18 missing NUP supporters, those detained without trial, and over 54 individuals who lost their lives during the violent protests on November 18, 2020, triggered by the arrest of NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi.

In the ceremony, ANT leader Maj Gen (rtd) Mugisha Muntu criticized the reduction of human rights issues to mere political disputes, emphasizing that human rights violations have persisted for decades and must be addressed collectively. He highlighted the deliberate nature of abductions, arrests, and killings as part of a dictator’s strategy to instill fear and maintain power.

Former FDC president and four-time presidential candidate Col (rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye stressed the importance of unity among Opposition parties, particularly in addressing human rights abuses, stating that peace and defense of human rights should be common ground.

Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), addressing the gathering, praised his counterparts for supporting NUP’s call for justice, emphasizing the symbolic unity as a beacon of hope for victims of human rights violations.

The prayer session, led by Kimaanya Kabonera MP Abed Bwanika, appealed to God for healing and protection for Ugandans facing adversity in various detention centers as the nation celebrates Christmas.

Notable attendees included Kampala Capital City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, Conservative Party leader John Ken Lukyamuzi, former opposition leaders in Parliament, and FDC-Katonga members Phillip Wafula Ogutu and Winnie Kiiza. However, opposition leaders criticized religious leaders for not responding to invitations to the event, emphasizing the need for collective prayer and support.