After spending 28 years in prison without trial, Alfred Byamukama has finally been released. The High Court in Mbarara ordered his freedom, ruling that his prolonged detention without trial violated his right to a fair hearing and amounted to a serious abuse of justice.
Byamukama was arrested in 1997 in Rubagano village, Rwampara District, on allegations of murder. At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly suffering from a mental disorder, which made him unfit to stand trial. Instead of being taken to a mental health facility or given special legal consideration, he was remanded to prison and remained there for nearly three decades.
During his 28 years in detention, his case never progressed, and no trial ever took place. Court officials and human rights advocates described his situation as one of the longest cases of pre-trial detention in the country’s history. The judge who ordered his release said keeping a person in prison for that long without trial was unconstitutional and inhumane.
When he finally left prison, Byamukama appeared frail but calm. His family, who had visited him for years without hope, welcomed him back home with tears and relief. His mother, now elderly, said she had prayed every day to see her son free before her own passing.
The case has drawn widespread attention to the state of Uganda’s justice system, especially the delays faced by detainees with mental health conditions. Legal experts have urged authorities to review all similar cases and to provide proper care and monitoring for those found unfit to stand trial.
Byamukama’s release ends one of Uganda’s longest detentions without trial, marking both a moment of relief for his family and a reflection of the urgent need for justice reform.