UPDF General To Plead With Museveni To Forgive NUP Foot Soldiers Arrested In Mbarara Besides Olivia Lutaaya

Brig. Jacob Asiimwe, a Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs and a prominent representative of the NRM Civilian Veterans, has revealed plans to personally petition President Yoweri Museveni to pardon more than 100 National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters arrested during recent campaign rallies.

His announcement comes at a moment of heightened political tension, with both government officials and opposition leaders trading accusations over the conduct of campaign trail activities.

The Brigadier made the remarks while addressing veterans gathered in Makulubita, Luwero District—an area often described as the symbolic heartland of the 1980s liberation struggle. Speaking with a blend of firmness and empathy, he expressed concern for the arrested youths even as he criticized the confrontational tactics seen at some rallies.

“I feel bad for some of these kids because they take on things they do not comprehend. They are lured into waters that they do not know how deep they go,” Asiimwe stated.
His words painted a picture of young supporters swept into turbulent political currents they may not fully grasp.

He went on to highlight what he described as the futility of violent demonstrations, urging the youth to learn from the past and exercise restraint. “Tell these kids that protests are pointless… The president has been very kind and pardoned many young people caught up in these crimes.” According to him, the country has witnessed repeated cases in which President Museveni has opted for mercy instead of maximum punishment—a precedent he hopes will continue.

Meanwhile, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has announced a significant milestone in its nationwide ID renewal and issuance exercise. Residents of Nakawa Division are expected to receive their long-awaited National IDs on November 15, 2025, marking another step toward improving access to essential national services.

In a separate but forward-looking development, a partnership between River Flow International (RIFI) and the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) is quietly reshaping classrooms across Uganda. Through this collaboration, learning spaces are being redesigned into dynamic “living laboratories,” a shift meant to enhance practical learning and modernize education.

Adding to these national transformation efforts, two newly constructed houses—part of a cohort of 12 spread across the country—now stand as physical reminders of Uganda’s pledge to honour its heroes. These homes symbolize a broader government commitment to improving the welfare of veterans and their families.

However, the political landscape has been dominated by the fallout from the mass arrests that followed the interception of opposition leader Bobi Wine’s campaign convoy in Mbarara. Authorities detained more than a hundred NUP supporters, 43 of whom were formally charged with offenses including willful obstruction of a police officer and several traffic-related violations.
The NUP leadership has repeatedly slammed the arrests, describing them as calculated attempts to disrupt their campaign momentum.

But Brig. Asiimwe pointed out that legal boundaries could complicate pardon efforts in certain cases. He referenced the situation of Olivia Lutaaya, a controversial figure who previously benefited from a presidential pardon. According to him, she may not qualify for another. Under the Amnesty Act, an individual cannot receive two presidential pardons for the same category of offense.

Lutaaya, who was pardoned last year after three years on remand for treachery charges, found herself back in custody following another arrest on November 7th. This time she was charged separately with unlawful drilling before the Kanyanya Magistrate’s Court.
“I think she forgot, because the law says if you are pardoned by the president for a crime, you cannot be pardoned again. That is what the Amnesty Act says. Now she is back in trouble,” Asiimwe noted, emphasizing the legal limitations surrounding repeat offenders.

Despite such challenges, the Brigadier maintained a determined tone, insisting that compassion should guide the nation’s approach to the newly detained youth. “I am going to reach out to the president and ask him to forgive those (NUP supporters) arrested recently,” he declared.

As he concluded his remarks, Asiimwe called for a broader conversation on nurturing discipline and responsibility among young political activists: “We shall speak for them but these children need to be reoriented.”

His appeal now places the spotlight on State House—where the final decision rests—and on the broader question of how Uganda can balance law enforcement with reconciliation in a heated election season.