“We can look into the cases of people who were burning tyres on our roads and those who beat up people,” said Museveni in reference to NUP supporters engaged in violent acts during the 2021 general elections.
“But those who are accused of capital offences such as murders, it will be hard to set them free,” he added.
Museveni made the remarks on Wednesday during the swearing-in of new ministers at State House Entebbe.
This was after the State Minister of Gender and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara presented Ali Kateregga, the NUP Councillor from Masaka to President Museveni.
Kateregga begged the president to free the suspects who are languishing in jails and vowed to support the ruling party.
In response, Museveni said he would pardon the suspects on condition that they promise that they will never again take part in such criminality since the government uses a lot of money to put up such infrastructure and protect the lives of Ugandans.
The court martial recently released two of the 11 NUP supporters accused of engaging in terrorist activities and making improvised explosive devices during the violent 2021 general election.
Opposition MPs have been boycotting parliamentary proceedings since last October to demand the release of their supporters who they allege are being held by security forces.
Balaam had earlier promised to approach the President with a plea to release all young individuals, especially those who support the opposition, particularly NUP supporters currently held in detention.
Last year, former leader of opposition in Parliament Mathias Mpuuga said over 500 NUP supporters were arrested in different parts of the country on various charges.
Most of them were released after one year without trial.
He, however, demanded accountability of the alleged death of 22 supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) during the campaign trail of the party president, Robert Kyagulanyi in 2021.
“The relatives of the deceased are still reeling in bereavement with no hope of ever receiving justice for the death of their loved ones,” he said.
Mpuuga added that government had ignored to provide accountability and justice for several others who have been missing for close to four years now.
“These persons were picked from their work places and homes by state security agencies. Detailed accounts of their arrest and eventual disappearance have been provided by families and friends. Only the state can account for their whereabouts,” he said.
Credit: Chimpreports.