By Our reporters
It is almost coming to three weeks since a Kampala based supporter of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) disappeared from her residence allegedly fearing to be arrested by security operatives.
Maria Birungi 32, a resident of Salaama-Kiruddu in Makindye Division went missing on April 26, two days after the arrest of Eddie Mutwe whose real name is Edward Ssebuufu was arrested by security operatives.
A close friend and neighbor of Birungi told this online paper on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, that he last talked to Birungi on the first Sunday of this month after a days’ service and she told him that she had received five threatening calls the entire day from a male voice asking her relationship with the then missing Eddie Mutwe.
“Birungi told me while wailing that a male voice using a hidden mobile number on the fifth day before her disappearance a man who did not identify himself warned her that if she does not reveal her relationship with Eddie Mutwe they will pick up her like they did to Eddie Mutwe and will be incarcerated together with him in Gen Muhoozi’s basement and that she will join him in the basement of the Chief of Defence Forced (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba where the former was kept,” said the source.
Birungi’s friend explained further that on the same day [April 27], Birungi called her again those two men followed her at night as she was coming from Kisugu to her residence and she ran and disappeared in the darkness.
“Since then, Birungi who was staying with her two children: Ezra Heavens (a six year school going pupil of Landmark Junior School) and a two month Hannah Halet went missing in the area and her apartment is locked to date,” Birungi’s friend further narrated.
When contacted for a comment, the area chairman Abdulzaak Kasim told us that Birungi’s neighbors had informed him of Birungi’s disappearance.
“I was told that before her disappearance; she reported herself to Kabalagala and reported her threatening calls. I have never seen her todate, the chairman said.
Our subsequent investigations found out that a week after her disappearance, Birungi reported a threatening violence case against a one Herbert Nyenje whom she alleges to have had a land wrangle with for a while. The reference police report seen is: SD/63/7/05/2025.
A NUP member in the area one Isaac Bbaale told this reporter that before Birungi came to Munyonyo, she was staying at Kisugu.
“I had known Birungi through her husband Makumbi who I hear fled to United Kingdom (UK) fallowing her political persecution when he was a staunch support of the Democratic Party (DP). I later heard of his arrest at Kabalagala Police Station in 2022 and was charged with threatening violence. I was told that even Makumbi’s first son James Lukenge 40 years is also on the run,” Bbaale told us.
Bbaale further explained that Birungi and Makumbi last year had a marital misunderstand after that later got some rumors that while in UK, Birungi was raped and was impregnated by another man believed to be the father of Halet, her last born so far.
Another impeccable source told us that Birungi with her friends participated in a controversial burial in Lwengo where some NUP members were accused of having assaulted journalists.
The source adds that Birungi attended the burial with Honourable Gonzaga Ssewungu, her former primary teacher.
Our investigation found out that Makumbi was arrested at Kabalagala under police reference 99/25/01/2022 and was later arraigned in Makindye Court where he is still battling with the threatening violence case.
Eddie Mutwe case:
Last week, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also President Yoweri Museveni’s son, confirmed that he had been holding Eddie Mutwe five days after his disappearance.
The lawyer representing the bodyguard, whose real name is Edward Sebuufu, said his client had been tortured with “wires of electricity.”
Rights groups have long accused the authorities of targeting the opposition especially during the run up to elections.
When Eddie Mutwe was brought to court recently, security operatives tried to shield him to prevent the media from seeing him depicting the bad state he was in.
Several human rights activists have condemned Mr Sebuufuu’s detention. And Uganda Human Rights Commission called for his immediate release.
Other Civil society organizations have also warned that his detention is part of a systematic campaign to silence dissent and crush opposition ahead of next year’s general elections.
Lawyer Mr Kazibwe added that aside from aggravated robbery, Mr Sebuufu and others still at large was also charged with simple robbery over the alleged incident at the Lwengo burial.
Eddie Mutwe’s co-accused that were charged earlier and remanded include: Achilleo Kivumbi, Ghadafi Mugumya and Smart Wakabi.
Political harassment allegations: Sometime back police arrested several youths some of whom are still before the General Court Martial (GCM) which was early this year disbanded by the Supreme Court verdict ordering that no more civilians should be tried in army courts.
Others missing people not yet traced for some years include Hassan Mubiru from Kawaala, Mike Semuddu and John Ddamulira who is listed by NUP official list of the 18 missing NUP supporters. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
