Museveni: Detention of Suspects Beyond 48 Hours Illegal

President Museveni has warned that it is illegal to arrest someone and detain them for more than 48 hours without taking them to the Courts of law.

According to the President, in case such arrests happen, the public, especially the leaders should document how the victims were arrested and not taken to court, then take the facts to the responsible authorities for action.

“You can do work for the people in whatever government that is in power, even if you don’t support it,” said Museveni, adding, “You use the positiveness of that government to support your people.”

He added: “If like in this case, you are being arrested, If I’m a Councillor or a  Member of Parliament,  I would document how the people were arrested and not taken to court, bring facts and confront the Prime Minister there- Nabbanja but with facts, not just come because some of these people may not have time to cross check, you need to help them with facts because you want to help your people.”

The President made the remarks on Friday 22nd December 2023 during an interactive session with the media at State House, Entebbe. 

Disappearances 

The remarks came high on the heels of increased opposition calls for the release of activists arrested during the 2021 election campaigns. 

Many of the activists continue to languish in jails while others remain unaccounted for. 

Families of these victims have pressured the government to disclose the whereabouts of their loved ones in vain.

Selected opposition MPs, mainly from National Unity Platform, staged a walkout from plenary sitting on 10 October 2023, protesting continued arrest and detention of their supporters. 

They demanded that the government accounts for all their missing and detained supporters. 

The President and the journalists discussed a wide range of issues on security, trade, politics, land, among others.

President Museveni noted that as a leader, his role is to crosscheck for facts on the illegal arrests and then discipline the misbehaving parties.

“The other day there was a debate in parliament where the Minister of State for Internal Affairs Gen. Muhoozi made a statement to answer the issue of people whom they say are missing. I was not following but I came to know that these  pro-opposition people,  when there’s an issue , they go to the NGOs to report Uganda that they have arrested and made someone disappear,” said Museveni.

“Okay if someone goes missing, report to the Police station not the NGO. That is why the information doesn’t come but if such incidents happen report to the police station, document it in your book that you reported, if action is not taken, then we shall know whom to blame,” he said while responding to a question raised by Mr. Meddie Nsereko of CBS Radio regarding the issue of detentions without trial.

It remains unclear why Museveni did not take action against security officials for conducting illegal arrests and detentions when this matter came to his attention. 

Nevertheless, Museveni said the “arrests are illegal and the way to fight them is by the people in authority but also the public should use the democratic structures they have to expose illegal arrests because that was really the purpose why NRM put them up.”