Olupot seated with a family member on a bench outside Masindi govt prison shortly after his release .
By witnessradio.org Team
Kiryandongo – Uganda – a Grade 1 (One) Magistrate Court in Kiryandongo district has released on bail a tortured community land rights defender who has been in Masindi government prison, found in Mid-Western region of Uganda since April, 11th, 2021.
Olupot James had been charged with threatening violence before being remanded to prison. He entered a plea of not guilty.
Olupoti had been abducted from his home on Wednesday 23rd of March 2021 at 1:00 pm local time located at Kapapula village, Nyamuntende Sub County, Kiryandongo district by a group of six (6) soldiers in UPDF uniform, he was severely beaten in front of his children and wife, unlawfully kept in different detention centers and got tortured before being produced in court on April, 11th, 2021.
Olupoti who looked physically weak, limping, and his body was full of bruises was denied medical treatment while in Kiryandongo district Central Police cells a day before he was produced before court according to Olupot’s family member, who preferred anonymity.
“Olupoti’s abduction and torture are linked to his work of mobilizing communities to resist illegal eviction by Kiryandongo Sugar Limited and being guarded by a national army”. Said a family member.
Apparently, Olupoti’s home is one of several families whose homes are trapped in the middle of sugarcane plantations after their land was grabbed by Kiryandongo Sugar Limited, one of the multinational companies dispossessing more than 35,000 people in the Kiryandongo district. Other multinationals include; Agilis Partners Limited and Great Seasons SMC Limited.
Upon being picked from the prison over the weekend, Olupot’s body was full of scars, and one of his toenails had been plucked out by captors.
“It was very clear that Olupot had been subjected to different methods of torture while in captivity as body scars were very visible and some wounds were still healing,” Said one of the lawyers that secured him on bail.
Olupot was released on a noncash bail of three million Uganda Shillings and he’s required to report back to court on May 11th, 2021.
