Ssentamu criticized the prosecutorial process, arguing that the use of court summons to compel his testimony was not in the interest of justice but rather part of a broader effort to intimidate and harass political opponents.
A senior official from the National Unity Platform (NUP), Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, has publicly rejected claims by state prosecutors that he is a witness in an ongoing case involving party members accused of unlawful military activity in Kanyanya.
In a strongly worded statement issued from the Former Kawempe South MP candidate, Ssentamu denied ever recording a statement with any authority regarding the case. He instead alleged that he himself had previously been subjected to abduction, incommunicado detention, and torture under similar accusations.
Ssentamu criticized the prosecutorial process, arguing that the use of court summons to compel his testimony was not in the interest of justice but rather part of a broader effort to intimidate and harass political opponents. He claimed that such actions are specifically targeting members and leaders of the opposition party.
“The objective of the state isn’t only to prosecute but also to create mistrust and division within the organization,” he said, asserting that attempts to involve him as a witness against fellow party members were malicious and unfounded.
The case, centered in Kanyanya, has drawn attention amid ongoing tensions between the Ugandan government and opposition groups. Ssentamu described the proceedings as a “charade of trial,” maintaining that there is no substantive case against the accused individuals.
He called on authorities in Uganda to withdraw the charges and release those detained, while urging citizens to remain vigilant against what he described as politically motivated actions.
Ssentamu concluded with an appeal for an end to the persecution of political opponents and the release of all political prisoners, emphasizing the need for unity and justice in the country’s political landscape.
