
Today is a sad day… when a political activist named Alivia Lutaaya has “pleaded guilty” to the charges put on her. After years in prison. The Military Courts has deferred the case and never proven their guilt. They don’t have the evidence or the witnesses to the charges. However, the cases have been pending and their lives have been on hold in prison.
Olivia Lutaaya has now been four years in prison. First as a part of a group that had “13 explosives” which was an army monopolized weapon. Meaning the army and the government claimed the 32 individuals in question had the weaponry and the authorities captured them with it.
However, that was in 2021 and in 2023 the charges changed, and the 32 individuals are now part of a “bali bali” group and was planning “treachery”. That’s how to extend their time and resolve in prison. As a way of forging new charges and pinning new crimes on the people in question.
That’s why this case shows the ramifications of partaking and being vocal for the opposition in the Republic. These are people who was active and supporting the “red wave” and the National Unity Platform (NUP) ahead of the 2021 General Elections. They were picked up from Mbale, Jinja, Wakiso and Kampala. The ones charged together with Olivia Lutaaya wasn’t only in Kalangala on the 30th of December 2020.
No, these people weren’t organized or in connection of each in this manner. Nevertheless, the state alleges that and says so now. These people are prisoners of conscience. Those people are behind bars for their political affiliation.
The initial reason for their arrests was wearing red-berets. It has further extended to having explosives to later being charged with treason. If you think this case is rock solid and has the hallmark of proof. I hate to break it too you, but the state got nothing. They only have fear, intimidation and the monopoly of violence. That’s why they can do this and can take away the liberty, justice and freedom of these civilians.
Oliva Lutaaya deserves better. Everyone on the list of these days and the nights they are having behind bars. All of them deserves better. That Olivia has pleaded guilty is only because the state broke her. Not because she did anything criminal or with criminal intensions. No, it is only because she was associated and an activist from the NUP.
Oliva Lutaaya and everyone else who is a part of this deserves justice. However, they are only getting injustice and impunity. They are victims of who they believed in and who they wanted to rule the Republic. These people fought for their party and their candidate. The price they have taken is too high. It shouldn’t be this way. The cost of being politically active shouldn’t be like this. Risking your life and being behind bars for years. Just because you support Bobi Wine. That’s foolish, but that’s where the Republic is today. Peace.










