KAMPALA – Senior prison officials at Luzira Upper Maximum Security Prison have ordered the isolation of several jailed supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP), including bodyguards of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The directive, reportedly issued by Senior Superintendent of Prisons Bryan Mbazira, the Officer in Charge of the facility, targets individuals including Eddie Mutwe and Kivumbi. They have been moved to a special cell in Ward 19, a high-security area, effectively cutting off their communication with the general prison population.
The move is seen as an effort to prevent them from sharing their experiences or coordinating with other inmates. Ward 19 is situated within the same secure perimeter as the cell of veteran opposition leader Colonel Dr. Kizza Besigye. From their new location, the NUP supporters also have a clear view of two other notorious wards: A2 and the East Wing.
These wards house some of Uganda’s most high-profile detainees. The East Wing is home to Jamil Mukulu, the alleged leader of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). Mukulu, a former businessman in Kampala’s Owino Market, faces serious charges including treason and terrorism for his alleged attempts to overthrow the government of President Yoweri Museveni.
Ward A2 is reportedly where Charles Olim, aka Sipapa, is incarcerated. Sipapa, a socialite known for his flamboyant wealth, was convicted for his role in a violent robbery in Kololo.
Despite the proximity of these wards, any attempt at communication between inmates is met with severe punishment. Prison authorities enforce a strict policy of silence between the segregated units. Any inmate caught trying to communicate faces a harsh 30-day isolation sentence in a cold room, permitted to wear only shorts.
This punishment is not theoretical. Sources confirm that Sipapa himself previously endured this exact penalty after being involved in a fight with fellow prisoners.
The isolation of the NUP supporters raises questions about the treatment of political prisoners at Luzira. Critics of the administration often accuse the state of using the prison system to break the spirit of dissenters through punitive measures and solitary confinement.
Prison authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding these specific allegations.
