Nine supporters of the National Unity Platform regained their liberty after the General Court Martial in Makindye approved amnesty applications submitted to the army court.
The group, held in custody since the 2021 general elections, were released on Friday following a hearing chaired by Brigadier Richard Tukacungurwa. The court cleared applications for pardon from Yasin Ssekitoleko, alias Machete, Patrick Mwase, Sharif Kalanzi, Joseph Muwonge, Abdalla Kintu, Emma Umar Kato, Musa Kavuma, Jimmy Galukande, and Abdallah Hakim Gibusiwa.
The military prosecution indicated it had no objection to the amnesty requests. Nathan Twinomugisha, principal legal officer for the Uganda Amnesty Commission, received the beneficiaries on the commission’s behalf. The commission will supervise rehabilitation, counselling and reintegration programmes before the men are reunited with their families.
The accused had been arraigned on counts including treachery, cited under Section 127(a) of the UPDF Act, and unlawful possession of ammunition, under Section 158(2)(c). Prosecutors alleged that between March and May 2021 the nine operated across parts of the Kampala metropolitan area, including Kireka, Nakulabye, Kawempe, Natete and Nakasero, as well as in Jinja and Mbale.
Authorities say the suspects acted as agents of a group referred to in court as the Bali Bali group, recruiting members, undergoing training and detonating improvised explosive devices against motor vehicles and infrastructure in actions described as prejudicial to national security. The prosecution also told the court that between November 2020 and May 12, 2021 the accused were found in illegal possession of improvised explosive devices in locations including Kampala, Wakiso, Jinja and Mbale, which supported the ammunition charge.
The immediate next steps place the freed men in the custody of the Amnesty Commission for rehabilitation and reintegration. The commission’s programmes will determine when each beneficiary can return to their community under its supervision.
