Statement By National Unity Platform External Communications Unit.
October 14, 2020.
On 14 October 2020, the Ugandan police and military conducted a raid on the National Unity Platform (NUP) National Office in Kampala, Uganda under no clear circumstances.
Officials at the NUP National Office have confirmed that documents, including computers have been seized in the raid. The National Unity Platform is a credible, legitimate, lawful and legally recognised political party as provided for under the Political Parties and Organisations (amendment) act, 2010.
We strongly condemn the intrusion and vandalism of the National Office. We believe that the Government of Uganda has no justified pretext to order a raid on the offices of the National Unity Platform. The raid was intolerable and unacceptable and we condemn it.
We believe that the raid was intended to intimidate NUP leaders and staff and undermine public support and trust in the party. In addition, we believe that the raid was carried out to cause disruption in organisation and mobilisation by the National Unity Platform as the General Election approaches.
The Government of Uganda is losing support due to corruption and mismanagement by the ruling party. It has resorted to widespread violent, brutality, repression, torture and terror to hold onto power at all costs.
The raid on the offices of the National Unity Platform will not frighten us and will only embolden our quest for a new Uganda, free of dictatorship and repression. We call on the Government of Uganda to stop the selective persecution of the National Unity Platform, including the persecution of its leaders, members, supporters and activists.
We remind the Government of Uganda that militarised repression will not resolve the country’s systematic problem, and that it will only deepen divides and lead to greater instability. Instead of resorting to repression, the Government of Uganda must reach out to the National Unity Platform and the opposition to arrange a successful democratic transition.
We urge members of the international community to hold the Government of Uganda to account as a signatory on International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
