Human Rights
36 FDC Members Arrested in Kenya Demand Return of Confiscated Phones Amid Treason Charges
several members of Uganda’s Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, who were arrested in Kenya on charges of treason, have petitioned the court to order the return of their confiscated mobile phones. The activists claim that during their arrest, security officers took possession of their phones and used them to make calls to various individuals, including their family members.
The FDC members fear that the calls made using their devices could be manipulated to fabricate evidence against them. They are concerned that their communications might be used by the authorities to build a case implicating them in activities they were not involved in.
In their plea, the FDC activists emphasized that the phones contain crucial personal and professional information, and that the confiscation violates their right to privacy. They insist that the phones be returned to avoid any potential tampering with the evidence.
This case underscores the growing concerns among political activists in East Africa over the use of digital evidence in legal proceedings. Many opposition members claim that governments in the region are increasingly resorting to surveillance tactics to silence dissenting voices. The FDC activists have vowed to continue their fight for justice and have called on international human rights organizations to monitor the situation closely.
The court is expected to make a ruling on the activists’ request in the coming days, as the treason case continues to unfold.