Balaam
In an interview with our sister publication Monitor at his office in Kampala on Tuesday, the Minister of Youth, Mr Balaam Barugahara, tabled three letters signed by 19 NUP supporters, requesting his help to secure a presidential pardon through the Mercy Law.
He explained that the detainees’ admission of guilt was informed by their attempt to avoid lengthy court battles and pursuit of reduced sentences, citing the years they had already spent in detention.
“I went to the prison to visit them on their invitation. I forwarded their written pleas to President Museveni, resulting in their pardon after recommendations by a committee. Among the pardoned was Olivia Lutaaya, who has since made unsubstantiated claims against me,” Minister Barugahara said. One letter, dated October 15, seen by this publication bears Ms Lutaaya’s thumbprint on an individual basis.
“I have been convicted by this honourable court on the charges I committed, and I can’t put it on anyone. This was my consent to make the government that was duly elected fail through non-democratic principles, but I truly apologize for my unlawful actions,” the letter reads in part.
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