Uganda, Jan. 31 -- Families of 18 people, who were allegedly arrested by security agencies, have asked the court to declare their continued detention illegal.

The families allege that the group has neither been presented in any court of law nor charged with any lawful offence.

They say they have used all reasonable means of accessing them to no avail.

Through their lawyers of PACE Advocates, the group is now seeking a declaration that the continued incommunicado detention of the 18 people by the State is unlawful and constitutes a violation of their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Constitution.

"A declaration that the respondent (government)'s conduct is a flagrant dereliction of their human rights obligation to respect, ...