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A delegation of European Union Ambassadors in Uganda led by Mr. Jan Sadek and his deputy Ralph Pine attended the joint press conference that was organised by the National Unity Platform (NUP) at Makerere-Kavule on Bombo Road on Friday, May 5th. 2023

On Friday 5th May 2023, a Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Uganda visited the National Unity Platform (NUP) at her premises in Makerere-Kavule where they discussed various matters of interest to the nation and the region.

During the discussion, NUP presented the continuing alleged human rights violations in Uganda, the capture of state institutions as well as the pervasive corruption which is at the peak in the country.

NUP led by Mr. Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine also pointed out that the population expects a lot more from the EU and all development partners when it comes to pressing for the rule of law in Uganda.

The EU envoys hold the much-publicized joint press conference that was organized by NUP leader Bobi Wine on the grounds that the allegations made were false and intended to tarnish the government’s image and compromise their diplomatic status.

Sources within NUP have disclosed that the EU delegation, composed of Ambassadors from Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, France, and Denmark, held a meeting with the leadership of NUP in the presence of party president Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, party secretary Louis Rubongoya, Fred Nyanzi, Flavia Kalule, Anne Mugisha, Francis Zaake, Ali Bukenya, and John Baptist Nambeshe.

The meeting follows NUP’s allegations of infringement of human rights and the parading of torture victims.

A source in NUP who preferred anonymity revealed that after an enclosed two-hour meeting between NUP leaders and EU envoys, the delegates rejected holding a joint press conference because the issues NUP raised were incompatible with their diplomatic status.

In December 2022, Moses Simbwa, a resident of Jinja City who got involved in a motor accident and sustained severe injuries in 2021, was among the people paraded by NUP leaders before Human Rights’ funders as a torture victim during a meeting in Kenya.

Richard Ssebuganda, a medical student at Makerere University who lost his fingers to a teargas canister explosion during the “open for all” protest as he tried to throw it back at the police, was also among the alleged torture victims paraded.

A source added that because of the disappointment from EU delegates, the distressed Bobiwine, who had already planned the presser, decided to immediately abandon the conference and left crestfallen from the scene after the meeting.

He added that NUP party spokesperson Hon. Joel Ssenyonnyi disguised himself by addressing the media and disclosing a few details about the engagement they had with EU delegates. He said that a team from the EU delegation visited NUP to deliver feedback on concerns NUP raised when they wrote to them regarding the aftermath of the 2021 general elections and respect for human rights.

“As NUP, we expected to tell the whole world what has been happening in Uganda, but they refused to speak in camera, which disappointed us,” he said.

He added that on the issue of arrests, brutality, and human rights abuse, EU delegates told them that they had engaged the government of Uganda and found out that all people had been released and some of the prisoners had been tried in courts of law.

He said that the delegation said that they have been monitoring human rights and democracy in Uganda, which they discovered were satisfactory.

Mr. Ssenyonyi and the NUP leadership showed discontent with EU delegates because they did not play their political games. On the issue of corruption, Ssenyonyi said that the EU told NUP that the government of Uganda was handling it, and they saw some officials being implicated and tried in court.

Mr. Ssenyonyi noted that the EU is a strong pillar in supporting and funding Uganda’s policies and economy, and NUP normally shows accountability as they seek funds for political activities, some of which are funded by EU NGOs and other Ugandan well-wishers.

The EU delegation commended the government of Uganda for protecting human rights and ensuring democracy in Uganda.