Opposition political party, Forum for Democratic Change has said they are optimistic, the government in Democratic Republic of Congo under the new administration of Felix Tshisekedi will soon release opposition activist, Sam Mugumya.
According to FDC secretary for mobilization, Ingrid Turinawe talks with the new government have so far progressed well, adding that they have hope their colleague will be set free.
Mugumya, an FDC ardent supporter was arrested in 2014 in Eastern DRC together with Aggrey Kamukama, Steven Mugisha, Nathan Bright and Joseph Kamugisha and have since been detained at the Ndolo Military Prison.
The Ugandan government in 2016 said Mugumya had been arrested for engagement in subversive activities adding that he had been arrested with dollars and “sensitive” documents.
“There is new leadership in DRC and we hope the negotiations will be fruitful. We are still following up on the matter and confident he will be released,”Turinawe said.
The Congolese President recently pledged to pardon political prisoners as well as returning those who had fled abroad for political reasons.
"Within 10 days I am going to grant a presidential pardon in favour of political prisoners who have been convicted by a final court judgment," Tshisekedi said recently.
However, according to FDC’s Ingrid Turinawe, they are optimistic their comrade, Mugumya would also benefit from the arrangement by the new setting in Kinshasa.
This however seems impractical because Tshisekedi said his pardon would be in regards to political prisoners who have been convicted by a “final court judgment” a category where Mugumya does not fall because he was not arrested for political reasons neither has he ever been convicted by any court in DRC.
The State minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem told Parliament Mugumya would not be extradited due to lack of any extradition treaty between the DRC and Ugandan governments.
