Activist Fatuma Nansubuga Remanded to Luzira Prison After demanding Speaker Among’s resignation

A 34-year-old woman, Fatuma Nansubuga, has been remanded to Luzira Prison on charges of common nuisance after staging a lone protest outside the Ugandan Parliament. Nansubuga, a resident of Kalerwe Market in Kawempe Division, was arrested two days ago and arraigned before Grade One Magistrate Caroline Kyoshabire on Thursday.

According to the prosecution, Nansubuga was seen on July 2 at Kampala Central carrying placards demanding the resignation of Speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among. The placards bore messages advocating for a corruption-free Uganda. The prosecution argued that her actions inconvenienced the public by blocking their walkway, thereby constituting a common nuisance.

The prosecution informed the court that investigations in this case are complete and requested a hearing date. Nansubuga denied the charges against her and, through her lawyer Swaibu Kitakule, applied for temporary release on bail. Magistrate Kyoshabire advised Nansubuga’s lawyer to apply for bail at the next sitting.

As a result, Nansubuga, who has been held at Kampala Central Police Station for two nights, was sent to Luzira Prison until July 9. Nansubuga is not the only person recently charged with offenses related to condemning corruption allegedly perpetuated by Speaker Among.

Earlier this week, former Rubaga Division Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Herbert Anderson Burora was also remanded to Luzira Prison by the same court on charges of hate speech and spreading malicious information. Burora had criticized Speaker Among over corruption allegations on social media platform X, shortly after being suspended from office for issuing statements without authorization from his supervisors.

A few months ago, popular TikToker Ibrahim Musana, known as Pressure 24/7, was remanded for approximately two months for promoting hate speech against Among, President Museveni, and the Kabaka of Buganda before he secured his release.

The repeated arrests and remandments of individuals speaking out against corruption highlight the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression and accountability in Uganda.