By Ben Musanje
Concern is mounting over the whereabouts of Amuria District Woman Member of Parliament Margaret Etilu after police said they had no information regarding reports that the legislator is being held by security agencies, even as sources link her detention to ongoing investigations surrounding former Speaker of Parliament Anita Among.
Speaking during the weekly press briefing at Police Headquarters in Naguru on Monday, Police Spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke declined to comment on reports that the newly elected MP had been arrested or was in detention, saying he had not been briefed on the matter.
Rusoke told journalists that he could not speculate on Etilu’s whereabouts without first establishing whether she was under arrest, where she was being held and what charges, if any, had been preferred against her. He said he did not have information to that effect at the time of the briefing.
His remarks come amid growing public concern following reports that Etilu has not been seen publicly for about a week.
The controversy intensified after former Serere District Woman MP Alice Alaso issued a strongly worded public statement demanding answers about the whereabouts of the legislator.
Alaso said she was deeply concerned about Etilu’s disappearance and questioned why there had been no official communication regarding the MP’s whereabouts.
For days, speculation has swirled around the fate of the recently sworn-in lawmaker. According to sources familiar with the matter, Etilu was apprehended by a team of detectives at the residence of former Speaker of Parliament Anita Among. However, neither the Uganda Police Force nor any other security agency has officially confirmed her arrest, detention or whereabouts.
Her reported detention comes amid ongoing high-profile investigations into alleged corruption and abuse of office within Parliament, investigations that have increasingly focused on individuals associated with the former Speaker.
During Monday’s briefing, Rusoke acknowledged that security agencies recently conducted an operation at Among’s residence, although he declined to discuss details of the investigation.
He confirmed that an operation had taken place and noted that the development was already in the public domain because journalists had been present near the scene.
Rusoke further stated that investigators recovered exhibits from the premises and that additional information would be released at an appropriate time if the recovered items proved central to ongoing investigations.
Questions have also emerged regarding the continued security presence at Among’s residence following the operation. Rusoke said he could not provide definitive answers, explaining that any continued deployment would depend on whether investigators still had an interest in the premises.
The developments have fueled speculation about possible links between the investigations and Etilu’s reported apprehension.
Etilu is one of the newest members of Parliament, having recently won the Amuria District Woman MP seat. She succeeded Suzan Amero, who stepped down after serving three consecutive terms since 2011.
Political observers note that Etilu’s rise to Parliament was closely associated with Among’s political influence. Sources indicate that she maintained close political and personal ties with the former Speaker throughout her campaign and after securing victory in the election.
While no official connection has been established between Etilu’s alleged detention and the ongoing investigations, the circumstances have intensified public interest in the matter.
In her statement, Alaso criticized what she described as the silence of key institutions and leaders regarding the disappearance of a serving Member of Parliament. She expressed concern that Parliament, the Teso Parliamentary Group, ministers from the Teso sub-region, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and other leaders had not publicly addressed the matter.
Alaso argued that if Etilu was suspected of committing any offence, authorities should follow due process by presenting her before court and allowing the judicial process to take its course. She maintained that holding a person incommunicado would violate fundamental rights and undermine the principle of presumption of innocence.
She further questioned whether police or other security agencies were holding information about Etilu’s whereabouts and urged authorities to provide clarity to her family, constituents and the country.
According to Alaso, it was alarming that a young legislator could reportedly disappear for a week without public explanation, adding that leaders from the region should show concern and seek answers.
The absence of an official statement from Parliament has also drawn criticism, with some observers arguing that the institution has a responsibility to account for the welfare of its members.
Meanwhile, police continue to insist they have no information regarding the matter. Rusoke maintained that he could neither confirm nor deny reports of Etilu’s arrest because he had not received a briefing on the issue.
As speculation grows and official silence persists, pressure is mounting on security agencies and government institutions to clarify the status of the Amuria Woman MP.
For now, the circumstances surrounding Margaret Etilu’s disappearance remain unclear, leaving her supporters, constituents and political observers waiting for answers from the authorities. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
