The People’s Front for Freedom has accused the judiciary of delaying bail proceedings involving its members and raised concerns over the continued detention of party official Samuel Makoha and the whereabouts of Samuel Mugumba.
The People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) has accused the judiciary of frustrating bail applications involving its members, raising concerns over prolonged detention, alleged torture and the disappearance of party supporter Samuel Mugumba.
Addressing journalists at the party’s offices in Katonga, Kampala, on Tuesday, acting chairperson Dr Lulume Bayigga questioned delays in court proceedings involving party members and called on judicial and security institutions to address concerns over detainees’ welfare and access to justice.
Bayigga also dismissed reports published by New Vision about alleged negotiations between Gen Salim Saleh and Dr Kizza Besigye or his representatives, describing them as politically motivated propaganda.
He argued that any invitation from Saleh, given his standing, should have been formal and accompanied by a clearly defined agenda.
On bail applications, Bayigga criticised the handling of proceedings involving Elias Lukwago, saying the reported absence of a judge disrupted a scheduled hearing.
He questioned why the court had not communicated the judge’s unavailability in advance, arguing that delays place an additional burden on detainees and their families, who are concerned about their health and welfare.
Bayigga said applications involving sick detainees seeking medical treatment should be heard without unnecessary delays. He accused some judicial officers of avoiding cases involving PFF members and described the frustration of bail applications as cruel.
The PFF leader also raised concern over the continued detention of Samuel Makoha, the party’s secretary for foreign affairs, whom he said was arrested in November 2025 on treason charges and committed to the High Court in December of the same year.
According to Bayigga, substantive proceedings in Makoha’s case had yet to begin following his committal, leaving him detained at Luzira Maximum Security Prison.
He further alleged that Makoha faced restrictions on speaking to other people, accessing documents and communicating by telephone.
Bayigga questioned the basis of the treason allegations, arguing that the state appeared to presume Makoha’s knowledge of an alleged plot to overthrow the government because of his position in the party.
He added that Makoha had been expected to become a Member of Parliament but was arrested shortly after his nomination.
The allegations concerning Makoha’s detention conditions and the progress of his case could not be independently verified by the time of publication.
Bayigga also called for investigations into the whereabouts of Samuel Mugumba, whom he described as a victim of torture and enforced disappearance allegedly involving the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Special Forces Command (SFC).
He said Mugumba remained missing and claimed that he had been seen a few weeks earlier in a severely weakened condition, struggling to walk and requiring assistance to regain mobility.
Bayigga did not provide further details during the briefing to independently establish Mugumba’s whereabouts or verify the alleged circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
The PFF acting chairperson urged the judiciary to ensure that cases involving party members proceed without undue delay and called on the relevant authorities to address allegations of torture, restrictions on detainees’ access to communication and prolonged detention.
The allegations against the judiciary and security agencies had not been independently established by the time of publication.
The Judiciary and the security agencies named in the allegations had not responded to the claims by the time of publication.