The State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, has unveiled a startling revelation, accusing the National Unity Platform (NUP) party of falsely presenting the names of boda-boda riders and roadside chapati vendors as political prisoners. Barugahara, during a media interview in Kampala yesterday April 22, 2024, disclosed that an intelligence report revealed that the individuals listed, including NUP leader Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu’s childhood associates, were in fact youths working in the Middle East.
The Minister made the request after assuming office, asking President Yoweri Museveni for support in locating the alleged NUP supporters who were reportedly arrested during the 2021 general elections on charges ranging from property destruction to murder.
“What NUP is up to is gaining cheap popularity from Ugandans, but I am sure the truth will prevail,” said Barugahara.
The Minister, however, expressed disappointment when police investigations revealed that most of the named individuals were either abroad or working within Uganda. Furthermore, their national identification numbers did not match the names provided, raising suspicions that they had been bribed to tarnish the government’s image among the international community and development partners.
Though frustrated by the false presentation of these names, Barugahara has chosen not to disclose the identities of those involved at this time.
Barugahara has called upon the Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP), Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, to present the genuine names of the allegedly incarcerated individuals during his upcoming speech in Parliament. This would enable their release and provide clarity on the misinformation.
In addition, the Minister urged both Ssenyonyi and Bobiwine to refrain from using derogatory language about the President and instead embrace mature leadership based on mutual respect.
The State Minister’s exposé just like the previously presented fake list of torture victims continues to damage the NUP’s credibility and their motives behind presenting fabricated information.
The NUP party has previously been on the spot for faking names and lists of their imprisoned supporters and the alleged torture victims at the hands of the state security agencies.
According to a report by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) that was presented to parliament in October 2023, NUP provided false information about their supporters who were reported missing or were tortured by security agencies.
The government, on the other hand, stands firm in its commitment to uphold truth and transparency, vowing to investigate the matter further.
