“I believe in clean politics. It’s crucial for Uganda’s progress. We must reject deceptive tactics; the tactics that make young people misguided. We must embrace transparency and accountability” (..) “The president has no power to pardon unless someone has been sentenced. So the option available is to cooperate and put in their submissions very fast so that we can have a speedy and fair trial” – Balaam Barugahara (16.10.2024)
The Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon. Balaam Barugahara is reported to have visited prisoners of conscience at Kitalya and Luzira Prisons to coerce the prisoners of their guilt. In such a fashion that they will plead guilty to the charges pinned on them. Which he promises their only way to freedom.
It just shows the sinister part here. Several of political prisoners who has fraudulent charges on them. They have been in jail for years upon years now. Where the system has deferred and taken them to Court. Meanwhile, the state is supposed to build a case and prove with evidence of their criminal intent. Alas, the state has nothing and cannot come with anything. That’s why it’s sending Balaam after years of carnage behind bars. To promise them “freedom” and “liberty”, if they accept to become felons and get a pardon from the President.
That’s what we are seeing here. The activists and political affiliated to the opposition who are behind bars. People who have been there since late 2020. These people have gotten changing charges over the years. These civilians has been going to trial in Court Martial and tested through the military courts. These are possibly moved to a favourable court and possibly released after accepting guilt. This isn’t justice, but further injustice, as they are now felons and convicts, which they never did. However, they are out of prison but won’t be totally free. As the state can used the charges and the cases against them at a later date.
Balaam knows all of this… but he wants to be a stooge of the government. His now using his title and office to be a beneficiary. The Minister is now doing the bidding of the state and making the victims further punished for doing nothing. Just imagine people who has lingered behind bars and now have to accept their plights. They are told all of this and released, because they said “okay” to become felons. That’s the injustice here. There is no fair trial or justice here. Only pleaded guilty to “hot air” and then released. Meanwhile, that will be on record and haunt these political prisoners.
Yes, they should be released and freed, but not an a technicality like this. They should be exonerated and acquitted from the cases itself. Now, they are validating the charges and eating the criminal intent of doing so. They are admitting to acting in malice, when they never did. That’s what is disgusting about it and Balaam is giddy about it.
Innocent people are becoming criminals here. Just because of their political affiliation. It isn’t humorous, but tragic. Peace.
MinBane 