By Mulengera Reporters
Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has tasked the government with explaining the recent wave of abductions and illegal detentions of National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters. Her directive followed revelations by NUP leaders that seven of their members had gone missing.
“It is a valid concern—people can’t just be kidnapped like that. We need to know who is behind these abductions,” Speaker Among stated during the February 20, 2025, plenary sitting. “One of the government’s roles is to protect citizens and their property. We need to know where these people are, who took them, and if these reports are true. The government must report back to this House.”
Her remarks came in response to a complaint from Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, who raised concerns over the resurgence of abductions amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Dr. Kizza Besigye’s hunger strike at Luzira Prison.
“Kidnapping of citizens has resumed,” Ssenyonyi said. “Seven of our members and leaders are missing, and we suspect there are more whose families are yet to reach us. These individuals are being taken by unidentified people in plain clothes, driving unmarked cars, and wielding guns. Some are picked from their homes, others from their vehicles or the streets.”
However, Speaker Among objected to Ssenyonyi’s use of the term “goons,” calling it unparliamentary.
“Let us use the term ‘unidentified people’ instead of ‘goons,’” she advised. “If they were goons, why would the government be expected to intervene? We must be polite to find a solution because kidnapping is unacceptable. Let’s use parliamentary language.”
Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi also criticized Ssenyonyi’s choice of words but promised to issue a government response.
“We will respond as requested,” Kafuuzi said. “However, I must express my discomfort with the language used. We cannot confirm abductions without verification. That said, the government has an obligation to protect all citizens, and we will account for these concerns. We will return on Tuesday with a statement after investigating the matter.”
The missing individuals listed in Parliament included:
- Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu
- Mercy Walukamba
- Alex Rovans Lwanyaga
- Rehman Juma
- Eddie Kayabula
- Rasid Kinobe
- Sharif Kiyimba
Following the parliamentary protest, NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi announced via social media that some of the missing members and their vehicles had been traced to the Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI) offices in Mbuya, Kampala. He alleged that after their locations were exposed through car trackers, they were later abandoned near their homes.
“After four days of incommunicado detention and torture, our head of mobilization, Chairman Fred Nyanzi, has been driven from CMI torture chambers and dumped near his home!” Kyagulanyi tweeted.
In an earlier tweet, he reported that two female NUP supporters had also been released.
“After exposing the criminals and sustaining pressure, Mercy Walukamba and Rahma Juma were driven from Mbuya (CMI) and dumped at the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in Kireka, from where they were released! They were subjected to threats, intimidation, and ridiculous interrogations, but they remain strong in spirit,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Ssenyonyi thanked Parliament for taking a firm stand against human rights violations, particularly regarding Dr. Kizza Besigye’s detention.
“In recent days, we have faced serious challenges, but I am glad that as Parliament, we have upheld our duty as a people-centered institution. We are speaking out for those whose rights have been violated, including Dr. Kizza Besigye and other political prisoners,” he stated-Parliament Watch. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
