NUP's Olivia Lutaaya remanded again on charges of unlawful military drills

KAMPALA - Another NUP supporter, Olivia Lutaaya, has been charged before the Kawempe Court in relation to a military parade held at the NUP headquarters in Kavule, Wandegeya.

Lutaaya now joins ten other colleagues, including Edward Ssebuufu (alias Eddie Mutwe), Achileo Kivumbi, Waiswa Mufumbiro, Saudha Madada and others, who are already on remand on similar charges.

Lutaaya was arrested in Mbarara on November 7, 2025, following clashes between NUP supporters and police at a campaign rally held by NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi. She has since been held in police custody for four days.

Prosecution, led by Sharon Nambuuya, presented in court an amended charge sheet to include Lutaaya as accused number eleven.

Lutaaya faces four counts in which it is alleged that on February 12, 2025, at the NUP offices in Kavule, Wandegeya, without any authorisation from the Minister, Lutaaya, together with eleven other people and others still at large, engaged in military-like exercises (drills).

She is also charged with wearing attire that resembles security uniforms, which are the monopoly of trained defence forces only.

Lutaaya is no stranger to controversy. Nearing the 2021 General Elections, she was arrested in Kalangala during an NUP presidential campaign trail.

The mother of two was later arraigned before the General Court Martial in Makindye, and after spending four years and eight months on remand at Luzira Prison, Lutaaya and nineteen other NUP supporters pleaded guilty to offences of treachery and unlawful possession of explosives and ammunition.

She was sentenced to five years in prison, including the time she had spent on remand, leaving her with only three months to serve.

However, weeks into serving her remaining sentence, on November 22, 2024, Lutaaya and nineteen other NUP convicts received a presidential pardon and were subsequently released from prison.

Lutaaya’s lawyers, including Samuel Muyiizi, wanted a private doctor to access her in prison, saying she was arrested in a dehumanising manner and is complaining of pain.

The request was rejected by trial Grade One Magistrate Damalie Agumaasiimwe, who insisted that prison authorities should be given a chance to examine her first.

The same request was also vehemently opposed by state prosecutor Nambuuya, who indicated that any person could access Lutaaya and murder her while in prison in order to smear government, since NUP is an opposition party fighting to oust the government.

Lutaaya was advised by court that she has a right to apply for bail but had no sureties. She has been remanded to Luzira Prison until November 18, 2025, the same date her co-suspects will appear.