The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has convicted eight environmental activists linked to the anti-East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) campaign on charges of common nuisance arising from a protest held in Kampala last year.
The activists, who operate under the pressure group Rooted in Resistance, were found guilty on Friday over their participation in a demonstration staged at Stanbic Bank headquarters in August 2025.
The convicts, most of whom are university students, have been on remand at Luzira Prison since their arrest, after court repeatedly denied them release on bail.
Trial Magistrate Sylvia Muwonge delivered the conviction but deferred sentencing to April 17, a move that drew sharp criticism from the defence team.
Defence lawyer Samuel Wandera faulted the court for convicting the activists without immediately pronouncing sentence, arguing that the delay further prolongs their suffering despite the offence carrying a maximum sentence of one year.
“This is an offense which carries a maximum sentence of one year. This person spent nine months now on remand. So to us, it's basically telling them you're convicted but you go home. But she has further remanded them for another one week,” Wandera told journalists outside court.
He described the decision as an abuse of court process and said the legal team would challenge both the conviction and the eventual sentence through appeal.
“We are not satisfied with the ruling or her judgment. We are going to read it, analyze it, and I can rest assured that we shall appeal that decision,” he said.
Wandera also said the prolonged incarceration has severely disrupted the lives of the accused, many of whom are students and parents.
“The students are now in the second semester of the academic year. And it's absurd that they are going to miss the exams again,” he said.
He added that some of the accused have suffered personal tragedies while in custody, including one activist who reportedly lost his wife during his detention.
“This week it has been a sad week for forces of change because Alex lost his wife. He's been in custody for about now six months and he couldn't nurse her,” Wandera said.
Activist Doreen Namara said the female prisoners were enduring poor health conditions in Luzira Prison, with several reportedly battling ulcers, infections and skin diseases.
“The women are suffering because of the conditions. They are living in Luzira. They are sick. They have ulcers. They have infections. They have skin infections,” Namara said.
She urged the judiciary to consider the time the activists have already spent on remand and release them after sentencing.
