By KT Reporter
Fearless Wod-Acholi Kilama, the LCIII Chairperson of Pader Town Council, has been released after completing a six-month sentence for unlawful assembly.
Kilama was convicted in February, by High Court Judge Wilbrord Phillips Mwaka over his role in a December 2021 protest held during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The protest, in which authorities deemed unlawful, had resulted in the arrest and eventual conviction of Kilama and 32 others by the Pader Chief Magistrate’s Court in March 2023.
Speaking after his release, Kilama told supporters that his imprisonment was not for corruption or theft but for standing with citizens during a difficult time. He further vowed to return to active politics and hinted at contesting in the upcoming 2026 elections, though he did not specify the position.
Kilama’s lawyer, Godfrey Anyuru, revealed that they have already lodged an appeal of the judgment that led to his conviction. Previously, his lawyer stated that his client was convicted in absentia and without legal representation, which grossly violated his constitutional rights.
Democratic Party leaders, including Deputy National Chairperson Simon Opoka, allege Kilama’s prosecution was politically motivated.
Opoka also questioned the heavy deployments after his release. He stated that this case is a typical example of how political freedoms and the treatment of opposition voices in Uganda-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
