By Ben Musanje
The National Unity Platform (NUP) has expressed growing anxiety over the whereabouts of its Deputy President for Buganda, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, saying his continued disappearance following his arrest by armed security personnel has left the party fearing for his safety.
Addressing the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), NUP Deputy President for Western Uganda Jolly Jackline Tukamushaba said Kivumbi had been missing for 17 days (by Monday), with neither his family nor the party knowing where he was being held.
“Today (Monday) is the 17th day and we do not know where he is,” Tukamushaba said. “Where is Muwanga Kivumbi? Is he alive? Is he dead? Is he detained? Is he in the Basement? Where is he?”
Her remarks came as opposition political parties under the Joint Democratic Platform (JDP) petitioned the UHRC to investigate alleged enforced disappearances and unlawful detention of opposition supporters.
Tukamushaba said what worried the party most was the complete absence of any information about Kivumbi since his arrest.
“At times we are given a ray of hope, even when it is not really a ray of hope, when somebody tweets,” she said.
“But this time round he has also decided to keep quiet, and that worries us more. At least when he tweets, we know someone is somewhere.”
Although she did not mention Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba by name, her comments were widely understood to refer to his social media activity, which has in the past attracted attention following the arrests of opposition politicians.
Tukamushaba recalled that when People’s Front for Freedom president Elias Lukwago was arrested, there was at least a social media post indicating he was in custody.
“When our colleague Elias Lukwago was abducted, at least we saw a tweet. It was bad, but at least we said he is somewhere. Somewhere is where we want. Now we are asking where Muwanga Kivumbi is.”
She said the silence surrounding Kivumbi’s whereabouts had deepened anxiety among his family, supporters and fellow opposition leaders.
Arrested a day after securing bail
Kivumbi was arrested on Friday, less than 24 hours after the International Crimes Division of the High Court granted him bail in a terrorism case.
Justice Susan Okalany released him on a cash bail of Shs10 million, ruling that prosecutors had failed to justify his continued detention while investigations were ongoing.
Hours after leaving court, Kivumbi publicly declared that he would resume political mobilization against the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
However, his freedom lasted only a few hours.
According to NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, Kivumbi was intercepted at a security roadblock in Mpigi District while travelling from Butambala.
“Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi abducted from a roadblock in Mpigi, on his way from Butambala, and driven off to an unknown destination,” Rubongoya posted on X shortly after the incident.
Eyewitnesses said heavily armed men travelling in a numberless van, commonly referred to as a “drone,” suddenly surrounded Kivumbi’s white Toyota Land Cruiser.
The armed personnel reportedly forced him out of his vehicle before pushing him into the waiting van, which sped away toward an unknown destination.
“Police said they don’t have him”
Tukamushaba questioned why security agencies had failed to account for Kivumbi’s whereabouts despite the arrest occurring in broad daylight at a police roadblock.
“It was unique because he wasn’t actually picked from his home,” she said.
“It was at a roadblock. I would have thought that police would take interest in knowing this person that we had stopped—where is he being taken?”
She said the party was disturbed after police reportedly denied having him in custody.
“It was shameful that police said they didn’t have him. It may be okay if they don’t have him, but who has him?”
According to Tukamushaba, that unanswered question has become the central concern for NUP leaders and supporters.
Appeal to the Human Rights Commission
The NUP leader urged the Uganda Human Rights Commission to use its constitutional powers to establish Kivumbi’s whereabouts.
Addressing UHRC Chairperson Mariam Wangadya, she appealed for immediate intervention.
“I request that you put our voices together and we look for where Muwanga Kivumbi is.”
She also challenged the Commission to assess whether it was effectively fulfilling its constitutional responsibility of protecting the rights of Ugandans.
“Are we still on track? Are we fighting for the human rights of Ugandans? Are we still serving their interests or they are on their own?” she asked.
Opposition seeks answers
Kivumbi’s disappearance has become one of the central issues raised by opposition parties in their engagement with the Uganda Human Rights Commission.
Presenting the Joint Democratic Platform’s position paper, People’s Front for Freedom Deputy President Dr. Michael Lulume Bayiga said the coalition had asked the Commission to investigate alleged enforced disappearances, inspect places of detention and use its constitutional powers to account for missing opposition supporters.
The opposition maintains that Kivumbi’s case highlights broader concerns over alleged unlawful arrests and incommunicado detention of political actors.
At the time of the meeting, Kivumbi’s whereabouts had not been publicly disclosed. His family, lawyers and the National Unity Platform continued to demand information on where he was being held.
The allegations regarding Kivumbi’s disappearance reflect the position of the National Unity Platform and other opposition leaders. Ugandan security agencies had not publicly commented on his whereabouts at the time of the engagement, and the Uganda Human Rights Commission had not yet publicly responded to the specific requests made during the meeting. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
