Uganda court charges 36 opposition supporters with terrorism-related offences

A Ugandan court charged 36 opposition supporters on Monday with terrorism-related offences after they were deported from neighbouring Kenya where they had travelled to attend a training course, court papers seen by Reuters showed.

The 36 people, who are members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), one of Uganda‘s biggest opposition parties, deny the charges. Their lawyer, Erias Lukwago, told reporters outside the magistrates’ court in Kampala the charges were “ridiculous”.

The case comes amid protests by young people in both Uganda and Kenya against corruption, high taxes and other grievances.

Kenyan authorities detained and then deported the 36 people after they had travelled to the western Kenyan city of Kisumu on July 23 to take part in a leadership and governance training course, their lawyer and party officials said.

During their detention in Kenya “their properties were confiscated, including computers and phones. They were tortured and several injured,” Kiiza Besigye, a key figure in the FDC and a veteran opponent of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, said in a post on the X platform on Sunday.