By Kabugho Elias
The National Unity Platform (NUP) head of International Relations Nyanzi Fred Ssentamu, has distanced himself from state prosecutor’s claims that he is one of the two witnesses they intend to parade in the ongoing unlawful drilling case against NUP members at kanyanya court, calling it a government plot to create disunity within the party.
On Friday, prosecution told court that it intends to parade Nyanzi alongside police officer Sooma Armstrong in the next hearing of the case.
However in a statement released on his X account on Saturday, Nyanzi noted that he was equally abducted, held incommunicado, tortured, and eventually dumped on the street on the basis of similar charges of unlawful military drilling.
Nyanzi who reiterated that he has never recorded any statement before any authority regarding the case, advised court to use it’s powers in the interest of justice, rather than enable prosecutors allegedly harass, intimidate, and divide members of the opposition.
“While I am aware that Court has power to issue summons against anybody to appear as a witness, such power should be used in the interest of justice and not enabling the prosecutors who clearly have been deployed as weapons to harrass, intimidate and instil fear in the Country particularly targeting members and leaders of National Unity Platform” he said.
Nyanzi noted that the government was simply using the judiciary to create division and mistrust with the country’s leading opposition party.
“In the instant case it is very clear that the objective of the state isn’t only to persecute leaders of NUP but also cause disharmony, mistrust and break cohesion within the organization by maliciously seeking to compel and ensure my attendance as a witness in a matter against my comrades” he said. Nyanzi further noted that the claim is built on falsehoods and would eventually collapse like all the other lies fabricated against NUP and its leaders.
It is very clear that the state has no case against the comrades being taken through a charade of trial at Kanyanya court and it should do the only right thing, withdraw the charges, and set them free. I appeal to all Ugandans not to fall for these side shows by the regime, demand for the release of all political prisoners, and an end to persecution of political opponents and their supporters” he said.
Nyanzi revealed that he would at an appropriate time address media as more issues unveil.
