Yusuf Nsibambi, the outgoing Member of Parliament for Mawokota South, revealed that about 80 political prisoners are expected to be released in the coming days following direct talks with what he described as “the Executive.”
Speaking at the Uganda Law Society’s weekly press briefing on Thursday afternoon, Nsibambi said he met “the Executive” on Wednesday and secured assurances regarding the detainees’ freedom.
He also appealed for National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu to end his time in hiding and return to Uganda.
“I met with the executive yesterday and can confirm that approximately 80 political prisoners are expected to be released soon. I also urge the NUP President to return home, his presence in the country is greatly needed,” Nsibambi said.
He added that Kyagulanyi’s misunderstandings with the government cannot be resolved while he is away.
The statement comes less than six weeks after Uganda’s January 15, 2026, general elections, in which President Museveni was declared winner of a seventh term.
The polls saw the arrest of hundreds of opposition supporters, many of whom remain in detention on charges critics describe as politically motivated. Some have not yet been formally charged.
Nsibambi, a lawyer who served as Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) parliamentary whip until recently, defected to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in mid-February, shortly after losing his Mawokota South seat to NRM candidate Suzan Nakawuki.
He cited confusion and poor coordination within the opposition as reasons for the switch, positioning himself as a bridge-builder for post-election dialogue.
Kyagulanyi has been in hiding since January 16, a day after the election, following what he described as a night-time military raid on his home in Magere. He alleges soldiers tortured his wife Barbie Kyagulanyi and forced her and their children to flee Uganda for safety.
From an undisclosed location, the NUP leader continues to reject the election results, accuse the government of widespread fraud and human rights abuses, and call for targeted international sanctions against President Museveni and his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Uganda Police have repeatedly stated that no criminal charges are pending against Kyagulanyi and that he is free to return and engage in politics lawfully. Government officials have also publicly urged him to come out of hiding.