By BM
The Uganda Police Force has issued a stern rebuttal to what it calls “deliberate misinformation” by opposition politicians and their media allies, dismissing ongoing claims of politically motivated abductions as nothing more than propaganda aimed at discrediting lawful arrests.
At a heated press briefing held at Naguru on Monday, Police Spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke took the podium to “bring clarity” to what he described as a wave of public hysteria over a series of arrests linked to unlawful military-style drills allegedly conducted by members of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Rusoke stated that the public and press have been quick to label every police action a “kidnap,” yet police have been making arrests lawfully since 1906.
He asked whether, by NUP’s logic, every suspect who passes through police custody should now be classified as an abductee a claim he rejected as “both absurd and politically manipulative.”
He confirmed that at least 10 individuals have been arrested so far in connection with the alleged paramilitary drills conducted at NUP headquarters in Makerere-Kavule, with nine already appearing in court and a tenth a female suspect expected to be arraigned very soon.
He added that the arrests are ongoing and more suspects could be apprehended depending on how investigations evolve.
Rusoke emphasized that all arrests were carried out legally and none of the suspects were “kidnapped”, as being claimed by politicians and echoed by journalists.
He expressed shock that some journalists covering police functions later turn around to ask “where the kidnapped people are,” despite being present when the arrests were officially announced.
The police spokesperson said some of those arrested were engaged in unlawful drilling or paramilitary-style parades a crime clearly defined in the Penal Code Act (reportedly under Section 848).
He criticized NUP lawmakers for failing to challenge the law in Parliament the one institution where they actually hold power and instead choosing to rally bloggers to create online outrage.
He challenged them: “Why didn’t you repeal this law during your five-year term in Parliament if you believed it was unjust?”
He added that the police only enforce laws already on the books they do not write them.
In a pointed message to the accused and their supporters, Rusoke stated that police will not be instructed by suspects on how to conduct arrests.
Whether they are summoned or physically arrested is entirely at the discretion of the police. “You can’t commit an offense and then tell us how we should come for you,” he said. “That’s not how it works.”
Rusoke reiterated that every suspect taken into custody will either be taken to court or released, as per the law.
He firmly rejected the idea that anyone could be held indefinitely without charge and warned against attempts to politicize routine law enforcement.
Adding fuel to the fire, the recent arrest of NUP Deputy Spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro made headlines after he was reportedly abducted in broad daylight outside court and forced into silver Toyota Noah (UAK 368K).
Despite outrage online, police maintain he was a lawful suspect connected to the ongoing case and is now officially charged.
Also arrested was Sauda Madada, an aspiring Kampala Lord Woman Councilor, who was picked up in Busia as she allegedly attempted to flee into Kenya.
She has since been transported to Kampala and added to the growing list of suspects in the case.
Both Mufumbiro and Madada now face charges of conducting unauthorized military drills, allegedly held at NUP headquarters on February 12 and September 12, 2025, without clearance from the Minister of Defence, a requirement under Ugandan law.
As the arrests pile up and court proceedings intensify, the political temperature continues to rise.
NUP insists the charges are politically motivated and part of a wider crackdown on dissent, while police are standing their ground, determined to enforce the law regardless of whose toes are stepped on in the process.
With at least 12 suspects now charged, and possibly more arrests on the horizon, the clash between law enforcement and Uganda’s leading opposition party shows no sign of cooling off.
