In a raw and emotional press briefing, Dr Lina Zedriga Waru, the Acting President of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and Deputy President for Northern Uganda, has broken her silence on the terrifying abduction she endured in mid-January 2026, followed by over 40 days in detention much of it incommunicado—before her release on bail.
Dr Zedriga, a respected opposition figure and medical professional, described being taken from her home in a manner that left her “half naked” during the initial arrest, highlighting the invasive and humiliating nature of the operation. She was subsequently held in various facilities, including Gulu Prison, where she faced interrogation and explicit threats from her captors.
“They warned us: ‘Don’t talk to the press. If they see us talk to the press, they would pick us again. They said they know our homes and everything about us,’” Dr Zedriga recounted, her voice steady but laced with the weight of the experience. The threats were clear: speaking out could lead to re-arrest.
Charged with incitement to violence under Section 79(1) of the Penal Code Act—allegedly for activities in Omoro, Nwoya, Amuru, and Gulu City in December 2025—she appeared before the Gulu Chief Magistrate’s Court. On February 24, 2026, Chief Magistrate Augustine Alule Koma granted her bail: a cash bail of UGX 1 million, with four sureties each bonded at UGX 10 million non-cash (including Kelly Komakech, Sicondo Okot Abok, Sr Florence Bernadette, and Fr Aquilino Acidri). She is due back in court on March 24, 2026.
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya welcomed the bail but condemned the prolonged detention as “illegal,” arguing it was part of a pattern of state-sponsored intimidation targeting opposition leaders, especially female deputy presidents, to disrupt the party’s preparations ahead of elections.
Despite the trauma, Dr Zedriga emerged resilient and reflective. She spoke of forgiveness—“I have forgiven them from my heart because I know this is not my mission, it is a mission from above, from a mighty power”—and described the ordeal as a sanctifying experience that strengthened her resolve.
“Time in prison and detention facilities taught me that life is fragile,” she said, expressing gratitude for the lessons and vowing to press on with her duties as Acting President (amid Bobi Wine’s international engagements). She also praised the Constitutional Court’s recent quashing of parts of the “draconian” Computer Misuse Act, noting it could have otherwise been weaponized against figures like her.
NUP supporters and human rights advocates have hailed her courage, viewing the incident as emblematic of broader crackdowns on dissent in Uganda. Dr Zedriga’s story has sparked renewed calls for accountability and protection of political freedoms.
As she resumes her role leading NUP in Bobi Wine’s absence, her message is one of unyielding determination: the struggle for change continues, undeterred by fear or hardship.
Pearl News Network stands with those who speak truth to power. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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