Muhydin Kakooza Sanya, a supporter of the opposition party National Unity Platform (NUP), has ended an agreement with the government. This agreement helped get him out of prison. He had been pardoned by President Museveni for charges of treachery and having illegal ammunition.
On Saturday in Kampala, Sanya spoke to reporters. He said he pleaded guilty to crimes he did not commit out of desperation to get free after suffering a lot in jail.
Sanya said the agreement has led to ongoing harassment from security agents. They keep calling him and telling him to take them to where he hid guns and tanks. But Sanya says he never had any of those things.
The president pardoned Sanya and 18 others in November 2024. They had pleaded guilty in a military court to treachery and illegal possession of ammunition. The court convicted them.
However, nine of their counterparts did not plead guilty. They said the charges were politically motivated. Those nine are still in jail.
The group was arrested in 2021 while campaigning for Bobi Wine. He was running for president against Museveni and was his strongest rival.
NUP called the jailed people political prisoners. They wanted them released without any conditions.
The prisoners were freed after Balaam Barugahara became a government minister in charge of youth and children. He said his first goal was to ask the president to pardon the jailed NUP supporters.
In October 2024, Bobi Wine said Barugahara visited the jailed NUP members. He said Barugahara pressured them to plead guilty and ask Museveni for forgiveness. If not, they would never get out of prison.
Sanya said Barugahara and an NRM supporter nicknamed "Full Figure" wanted him to insult Bobi Wine and falsely say Bobi Wine was using political prisoners for his own gain.
According to Sanya, Barugahara wants to reduce Bobi Wine's support among young Ugandans.
On Saturday in Kampala, Sanya spoke to reporters. He said he pleaded guilty to crimes he did not commit out of desperation to get free after suffering a lot in jail.
Sanya said the agreement has led to ongoing harassment from security agents. They keep calling him and telling him to take them to where he hid guns and tanks. But Sanya says he never had any of those things.
The president pardoned Sanya and 18 others in November 2024. They had pleaded guilty in a military court to treachery and illegal possession of ammunition. The court convicted them.
However, nine of their counterparts did not plead guilty. They said the charges were politically motivated. Those nine are still in jail.
The group was arrested in 2021 while campaigning for Bobi Wine. He was running for president against Museveni and was his strongest rival.
NUP called the jailed people political prisoners. They wanted them released without any conditions.
The prisoners were freed after Balaam Barugahara became a government minister in charge of youth and children. He said his first goal was to ask the president to pardon the jailed NUP supporters.
In October 2024, Bobi Wine said Barugahara visited the jailed NUP members. He said Barugahara pressured them to plead guilty and ask Museveni for forgiveness. If not, they would never get out of prison.
Sanya said Barugahara and an NRM supporter nicknamed "Full Figure" wanted him to insult Bobi Wine and falsely say Bobi Wine was using political prisoners for his own gain.
According to Sanya, Barugahara wants to reduce Bobi Wine's support among young Ugandans.
