Recalling the elderly woman’s response, Atuhaire wrote: “She said, ‘Do you know, I had thought I won’t survive this year? Because I have been tested to the point of failing to buy a kilogramme of potatoes.”
A fundraising campaign has been launched by well-wishers to support the 83-year-old mother of Sam Mugumya, a former aide to opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye, who has been missing since he was allegedly abducted by unknown security operatives in Mbarara last year.
The campaign gained momentum after a video circulating on social media last week appeared to show Mugumya in an extremely frail condition. In the footage, he is seen looking weak and unable to stand without assistance, prompting renewed public concern over his welfare and calls for his release.
The fundraising initiative is being spearheaded by political activist Agather Atuhaire through her X account, where she appealed to Ugandans to support Mugumya’s elderly mother, who she said has been struggling to survive in her son’s absence.
According to Atuhaire, the appeal received an overwhelming response, with well-wishers contributing more than sh1.1m within a short period.
“After this post, many kind Ugandans reached out and said they want to add to this contribution to Sam Mugumya’s 83-year-old mother. As we speak, I have received about sh1.1m so far,” Atuhaire posted.
She said she informed Mugumya’s mother that more people had joined the campaign to help care for her while they continued advocating for her son’s release.
Recalling the elderly woman’s response, Atuhaire wrote: “She said, ‘Do you know, I had thought I won’t survive this year? Because I have been tested to the point of failing to buy a kilogramme of potatoes. I have lost so much weight and I was telling someone who recently asked me why I had lost weight that it was because of hunger. But I didn’t know that God was watching and waiting to intervene at the right moment.'”
Atuhaire said she plans to send the funds collected to Mugumya’s mother and encouraged more Ugandans willing to support the initiative to continue making contributions.
Mugumya was reportedly abducted in Mbarara last year by unknown security operatives, and his whereabouts have remained unknown since then. The emergence of the recent video has reignited public concern and intensified calls from supporters and human rights activists for authorities to account for his whereabouts and ensure his safety.
