Minister Balaam aims dig at LOP Ssenyonyi over "novice" comment following pardon of NUP supporters

State Minister for Youth Balaam Barugahara has fired back at critics, particularly National Unity Platform (NUP) spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi, who previously dismissed him as a "novice" incapable of addressing political prisoners' issues.

Speaking to Nile Post shortly after the release of 19 pardoned NUP supporters, Barugahara expressed satisfaction over their freedom, attributing it to the president's willingness to forgive and his own efforts to advocate for their pardon.

"Yesterday, I proved to him that a novice or beginner can be a concluder, and I concluded the issue," the minister said, taking a direct swipe at Ssenyonyi.

The remarks come days after President Yoweri Museveni pardoned 19 NUP supporters who had pleaded guilty to treachery charges before the General Court Martial.

The group had been sentenced to six months in prison but was released on Thursday after receiving the presidential pardon.

Barugahara commended President Museveni for showing clemency, particularly towards young political prisoners. He urged other convicted individuals, especially the youth, to come forward and request pardons if they wish to reintegrate into society.

"The president is willing to forgive," Barugahara said, emphasizing the need for convicts to take the initiative.

He  also reflected on his earlier pledge, made shortly after his appointment as state minister, to address the plight of political prisoners.

He noted that some had doubted his capability to deliver on this promise.

"I remember the likes of Joel Ssenyonyi describing me as a novice, saying I couldn’t do anything. But today, I have shown that I can deliver," he stated, underscoring his commitment to fostering unity and reconciliation.

The minister’s remarks have added a new twist to the ongoing political discourse surrounding the release of the NUP supporters, with opposition figures continuing to question the fairness of their trials and the conditions of their pardon.

As the conversation unfolds, Barugahara has positioned himself as a key player in the government's efforts to reconcile with younger political actors, calling for dialogue and forgiveness as pathways to national unity.