Kyagulanyi reported that Bobi Giant was on Saturday morning violently abducted outside Riham factory in Kawempe by armed soldiers who whisked him away in a drone.
It’s over five years down the road after the 2021 general elections which were marred by massive abductions and illegal detentions of opposition politicians and supporters.
National Unity Platform (NUP) leaders allege that at least 18 of their abducted supporters are to date still missing. Out of the 18, two were hailing from Mukono. They include; Yuda Ssempijja of Kabembe village in Kyampisi sub-county and Muhammand Kanatta of Walusubi village in Nama sub-county. Dozens of the NUP alleged political prisoners who were among the illegally arrested during and after the elections in 2021 are to date rotting in jails.
However, as the 2026 general campaigns are just unveiling, the trend of illegal arrests and abductions seems to pick up from where it had ended.
One of the recent abduction cases is of Sam Mugumya, former opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye’s former aid who was allegedly abducted on August 26, by military operatives in Mbarara.
To date, Mugumya’s whereabouts are not known. The High court in Kampala has therefore ordered the government and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to produce Mugumya who is allegedly being held in military custody.
Mugumya is seeking to represent Rukungiri Municipality in parliament under the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).
On Friday, the Civil Division judge Collins Acellam issued a writ of habeas corpus, directing that Mugumya, reportedly arrested by military operatives in Mbarara, be presented before a competent court within seven days.
The application was filed by Mugumya’s lawyers under Articles 23(9) and 44(d) of the Constitution, citing provisions of the Judicature Act and Habeas Corpus Rules. In his affidavit, lawyer Tumusiime Kakuru said Mugumya was picked up by security operatives and has since been detained at a military facility in Mbuya, Kampala, under the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (formerly CMI).
The court order is directed against the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), the Directorate of Intelligence and Security, and the Attorney General. Kakuru and fellow lawyer Kato Tumusiime argued that holding Mugumya in a military facility without charge or court appearance was unconstitutional.
But in response, Lt. Col. Edgar Musasizi, the Director of Civil Affairs at the ministry of Defence, denied the claims, saying no official detention facility was holding him and describing the application as “frivolous” and meant to tarnish the UPDF’s image.
Justice Acellam disagreed, stressing the constitutional weight of habeas corpus as a safeguard against unlawful detention.
“This writ is open to all citizens under the protection of the state. It is the solemn duty of state authorities to ensure such rights are upheld,” he said.
The judge ruled that the military’s denial did not sufficiently address the claims surrounding Mugumya’s arrest and disappearance, and ordered the state to produce him in court within seven days.
NUP reports fresh abductions, illegal detention
Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the NUP principal has today reported the alleged violent abduction of Tasi Calvin (Bobi Giant).
Kyagulanyi reported that Bobi Giant was on Saturday morning violently abducted outside Riham factory in Kawempe by armed soldiers who whisked him away in a drone.
“Moments ago, in Katakwi District, police detained several leaders of the National Unity Platform in the district including Okware Jonathan who coordinates Teso sub-region, NUP’s Toroma County chairperson Ijonai Juventine, and other comrades whom we had just nominated for local government positions in the district. They are currently detained at Kitakwi Central Police Station,” he reported through his social media handles.
He added; “Yesterday, NUP’s head of Mobilization comrade Buwembo Habib was violently arrested from Mityana district as he conducted a peaceful party activity. The same day, comrade Richard Kavuma (Pastor RK Madogo) was once again grabbed and dragged off the streets of Mbarara city for preaching the NUP message, while in Mbale, several NUP leaders including its Bugisu Sub-region Coordinator were violently arrested for celebrating their nomination as NUP Flagbearers! All these comrades are currently in detention.”
Kyagulanyi says that; “This is not legitimate enforcement of the law but a well-calculated scheme to silence NUP supporters countrywide, while ‘thugs’ who support the regime are left to roam the streets terrorizing citizens with zero consequences! We call on all Ugandans to speak out against this stinking impunity and condemn the cowardly repression in the strongest means possible! We also demand the immediate and unconditional release of all our people unjustly detained for supporting us! #FreeAllPoliticalPrisonersUganda.”
