Fred Lumbuye is not a criminal but he's a freedom fighter, a voice for the voiceless and a citizen journalist who chose to speak truth to power when many chose silence.
For years, Lumbuye has used his platform particularly through his popular online show to expose corruption, human rights abuses and bad governance in Uganda. His crime is that he has been a mirror to the regime. He has given hope to millions of Ugandans in the diaspora and at home who feel oppressed and unheard.
He has never advocated for violence. His only weapon has been his phone and his words. That is not criminality. That is activism protected under international human rights law.
Handing Fred Lumbuye over to the Ugandan authorities, particularly to the hands of @mkainerugaba and the security apparatus he commands( @MODVA_UPDF and @PoliceUg ) would be tantamount to handing over a lamb to a lion.
We have all seen what happens to government critics when they are returned to Uganda 🇺🇬
- Torture and Illegal Detention; Numerous reports from human rights organizations detail the torture of political activists in safe houses and illegal detention centres.
- No Fair Trial; Lumbuye would not face an independent judiciary. He would face a politically motivated trial where the outcome is already decided.
-Threat to Life; His life would be in immediate danger. His outspoken criticism of the First Family and the military leadership has made him a marked man.
Turkey 🇹🇷 is a signatory to the @UNHumanRights UN Convention Against Torture and the principle of non refoulement, which prohibits returning a person to a country where there are substantial grounds for believing they would be in danger of being subjected to torture.
We as Ugandans who love freedom, humbly appeal to the @TurkeyAffairs Government of Turkey 🇹🇷
Do not be complicit in the silencing of a freedom fighter. Do not legitimize transnational repression. Fred Lumbuye's activism in Turkey has been peaceful. He is not a threat to Turkish national security.
We call upon the @UNHCR, @amnesty ,@hrw and all people of good conscience to intervene and ensure that @lumbuyefredk is protected.
History will judge how we treat those who speak out against oppression. Fred Lumbuye stood for Ugandans. Now is the time for the world to stand for him.
Hands 🙌 Off Fred Lumbuye, freedom of speech is not ot a crime.
@TC_KampalaBE Do not deport Lumbuye or hand him over to Museveni’s son, Muhoozi. Lumbuye is a Ugandan fighting for his country to ensure Ugandans are not tortured, that they receive good services, and that there is human rights freedom in Uganda without kidnappings and torture protect him.
One day, you’ll also want to apologize to the Ugandans you’ve abducted and tortured in your so-called basement; to the mothers whose husbands and sons you murdered and denied even a decent burial; and to the women whose dignity you demeaned and whose bodies you objectified.
You’ll wish you could take back the reckless and hateful things you’ve said on X-the insults, threats, evil confessions and obscenities. But history offers no delete button.
Your apology today should remind you that the day will come when you are asking Ugandans for forgiveness but by then, history will already have passed its judgment.
@mkainerugaba@DaudiKabanda See what I told you? Your drunkard boss cannot handle his in-laws. You are just inside your own comedy show, but we see you. That drunkard will never rule us, no matter what he does. The generals who do not support his actions are going to overthrow him.