Outspoken activist and academic Dr. Stella Nyanzi has accused leaders and members of the National Unity Platform (NUP) of hypocrisy in their handling of the plight of a female activist who recently passed away after a long battle with illness.
In a strongly worded statement, Nyanzi faulted NUP leaders for only coming out publicly after the activist’s death, despite having allegedly ignored her during her most critical moments.
“They never lifted a finger to help her when she needed them the most, but now they are sharing photos of her emaciated body on a sick bed,” Nyanzi said, criticizing the party for what she termed opportunistic posturing.
She further claimed that the activist, who was reportedly abducted and tortured in a safe house at Mbuya CMI, contracted HIV/AIDS after being raped by a soldier. Nyanzi accused NUP of failing to support her throughout her hospitalization and asylum struggles in Nairobi and Kakuma refugee camp, where she lived separated from her children.
“Now they are making bold political statements about how she was their cherished foot soldier, yet they never supported her when she was displaced, seeking safety and justice,” Nyanzi added.
According to her, the activist’s legal case seeking accountability for alleged torture and human rights violations was neglected by the same political actors who are now condemning the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC). She specifically named Elvis Ssengooba and UHRC chairperson Mariam Wangadya as individuals who failed to deliver justice.
Nyanzi’s remarks have sparked debate online, with some sympathizing with her criticism while others argue that the activist’s memory should not be politicized further.
