Activists threaten to sue gov’t over pigs, coffins taken from them during protests
Human rights defenders under the United Forces of Change (UFC) have threatened to drag the State to Court for failing to return various items taken from their exhibits during protests.
The activists said on Tuesday during a press briefing at the office of former FDC Party President Dr. Kiiza Besigye that their lawyers are preparing to file a petition in Court compelling the State to release their captured items.
One of the activists, Robert Mayanja told Galaxy Fm reporter Minah Nalule that they are demanding two pairs of piglets, coffins , T.shirts , iron sheets, aprons, caps, phones and several other items taken as exhibits during court cases that have since been won.
“Since 2014, police have been carrying out arrests on protesters and various items have been confiscated and used in court as exhibits .However, we have never been convicted as activists, meaning all cases have been won to date. What pains us is the fact that non of the exhibits have been returned to us as the law requires.Those are private properties and unless I have a case to answer” says Mayanga
He added; “So we have instructed our lawyers to petition the court to compel the State to release all our items. We demand 4 piglets of good breed, and they must have multiplied by now, the coffins we use are expensive and executive because they were purchased from the same place as A-plus funeral services.We shall even get a valuer to quantify these items.”
Mayanja says the motive of such significant protests is to pass a clear message to affected parties.
“These are demonstrations, the purpose is to pass a message, for instance when we write your name on a colored pig, don’t look at the pig or protester pick the message and return our pigs” he says
The activists have also expressed their dismay at the imprisonment of their colleagues, who they say were merely expressing their discontent over the impunity with which the suspects were allowed to go free.
On July 27th, 2021, two suspects dumped a baby’s coffin at Mulago National Referral Hospital with placards demanding the immediate sacking or resignation of Dr. Diana Atwine, as the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health.
Activists threaten to sue gov’t over pigs, coffins taken from them during protests
President Yoweri Museveni had just reappointed Dr. Atwine in a recent reshuffle of accounting officers. Her appointment drew protests from some people accusing Dr. Atwine of masterminding the loss of money meant for the COVID-19 response.
The suspects including Augustine Ojobile and Sharif Kawooya alias Kajambiya were arrested in Kasubi and Kawempe respectively.
In August 2022, Police arrested two members of Torture Survivors Movement Uganda after dropping a coffin at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Kampala, while protesting the continued torture and killings of Ugandan migrant workers in the Middle East.
The protest followed the reported cases of torture and subsequent death in Saudi Arabia, of another Ugandan migrant worker identified as Caroline Kyomuhangi whose body hasn’t been returned to the country.
In June 2018, two activists were arrested by police for carrying a coffin to parliament in protest against women kidnaps. This followed the kidnap and subsequent murder of Susan Magara in February 2018, and number of people especially women and girls who had been kidnapped.
In June 2014, two university students were arrested for smuggling painted pigs past tight parliament security in a protest against political corruption and youth unemployment.
The pigs, painted yellow had slogans pinned to their ears condemning corruption. The youths said they were protesting against the a lack of jobs for young people and the extravagance of politicians.
In February 2022, unknown people riding on a motorcycle dumped two pigs painted yellow at parliament and fled.
Activists threaten to sue gov’t over pigs, coffins taken from them during protests
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