The National Unity Platform (NUP) has welcomed party member Saudah Madaada following her release after spending more than a year in detention over charges linked to alleged unlawful military drills.
NUP Secretary General David Rubongoya said Madaada had spent one year and nine days in custody, describing her return as a moment of relief for the opposition party.
Madaada was arrested in September 2025 and later charged alongside other NUP members over alleged military-style exercises at the party's Makerere-Kavule offices in Kampala.
“Very pleased to welcome our sister and comrade Saudah Madaada who has spent one full year and nine days in detention. Glad to see that her spirit is not broken despite this long period of detention without trial,” Rubongoya said.
He recalled that Madaada experienced serious health problems while in custody, including an incident in November 2025 when court proceedings were disrupted after she was reportedly vomiting blood and required emergency medical attention.
Rubongoya said the party was grateful that Madaada had survived the prolonged detention, while using her release to renew NUP's criticism of what it described as violations of the rule of law.
“As we receive her with joy, we must continuously condemn the breakdown of the rule of law that has occasioned grave injustice to people like Saudah, to the point of being pushed to plead guilty to crimes they did not commit,” he said.
According to Rubongoya, Madaada was not present at Kavule on the day prosecutors said she participated in military drills. He also questioned the continued detention of NUP supporters facing similar charges.
“Saudah never stepped at Kavule on the day they claimed she was involved in military drills,” he said, adding that repeated unsuccessful bail attempts and delays in conducting the trial eventually left her with no option but to plead guilty.
The prosecution had accused Madaada and other NUP members of participating in unauthorised military exercises at the party offices on February 12, 2025.
The accused have disputed the allegations, while courts previously denied bail applications, citing concerns including possible interference with witnesses.