NUP Seeks Legal Aid for 150 Arrested Members in Joint Appeal with Kazinda Family » The Hoima Post –

KAMPALA – In a significant move highlighting parallel crises within Uganda’s judicial system, relatives of imprisoned former accountant Geoffrey Kazinda and officials from the National Unity Platform (NUP) have jointly petitioned the Uganda Law Society (ULS) for urgent intervention.
The appeals, made during a meeting with ULS leadership, underscore two critical fronts: the prolonged detention of a high-profile convict and the widespread arrests of opposition members.
A 15-Year Legal Limbo
The family of Geoffrey Kazinda, the former Principal Accountant in the Office of the Prime Minister, appealed to the ULS to support their plea for the Supreme Court to issue a long-awaited ruling on his appeal. Kazinda has been enmeshed in a complex legal battle for 15 years following his conviction on charges of corruption and forgery.
His relatives argue that the delay in delivering a judgment on his final appeal is a denial of justice and prolongs his incarceration without judicial conclusion. They believe the Supreme Court’s ruling will finally bring an end to the protracted case, which has become a symbol of Uganda’s long-running fight against high-level graft.
NUP Seeks Aid for “Political Arrests”
In a separate but simultaneous plea, the Secretary General of the NUP, who was also present at the meeting, called upon the ULS to provide legal representation for the party’s members. He stated that at least 150 of their supporters and members have been arrested so far, often under circumstances the party alleges are politically motivated.
The Secretary General appealed to the professional body to uphold its mandate to protect human rights and ensure access to justice for all citizens, regardless of political affiliation. He emphasized that many of those arrested lack the financial means to secure adequate legal defense.
A Common Plea for Judicial Action
The meeting presented the ULS leadership with two distinct challenges that converge on the same principle: the right to a timely and fair judicial process. The Kazinda case represents a high-profile instance of a stalled legal mechanism, while the NUP’s situation points to a broader pattern of mass arrests requiring robust legal aid.
The Uganda Law Society, as the premier bar association, is now faced with deciding how to respond to these urgent requests. Its potential intervention could involve publicly urging the Supreme Court to prioritize its ruling on the Kazinda appeal and/or mobilizing its member lawyers to provide pro-bono services for the arrested NUP members.
As of now, the ULS has not issued an official statement on the outcomes of the meeting. The petitions, however, bring renewed public attention to the strains on Uganda’s justice system and the growing calls for its independence and efficiency.

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