By Mariam Nanyanzi Kyagulanyi
Thirteen supporters of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) have been remanded until 28 August .
This came after the suspects were arrested on Saturday for wearing party colours and carrying a national flag while travelling to a burial in Luwero District.
The group, travelling from Kampala to attend a burial ceremony , was intercepted, arrested and detained at Kawempe Police, according to NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya.
They were arraigned on Monday before the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Kanyanya, where they were charged with being a nuisance and with handling the national flag in “a careless and degrading way.”
Rubongoya said that the thirteen were denied the opportunity to apply for bail before being remanded.
“They’ve not been allowed to even make a bail application but have been remanded till the 28th” Rubongoya said.
He accused the government of routinely fabricating charges against opposition supporters to sustain a pool of political detainees.
“The regime always manufacturing cases to ensure a constant presence of political prisoners,” Rubongoya said.
The thirteen are Muwonge Martin, Bwire Hakim, Sseremba Paul, Kawanda Ezra, Ssali Fred, Simon Geserwa, Kasule Godfrey, Nakitende Vivian, Waswa Mohammed, Nayebale Grace, Musisi Shafiq, Lubega Shakuru, and Ssuuna Simon