Uganda's Military Detains Opposition Leader Muwanga Kivumbi in Kampala for 13 Days
In recent weeks, Kampala has been at the center of a troubling incident involving the enforced disappearance of Muwanga Kivumbi, a prominent opposition politician and deputy president of the National Unity Platform. On July 10, armed soldiers forcibly took Kivumbi from his vehicle at a police checkpoint, just a day after he was released on bail from politically motivated terrorism charges. Since that day, his family and supporters have been left in anguish, as he has not been heard from, and the authorities have failed to provide any information about his whereabouts. Kivumbi's case highlights a disturbing pattern of behavior by Ugandan security forces, who have been known to detain opposition figures under dubious circumstances. Following his arrest in January 2026, Kivumbi was accused of orchestrating violent attacks, charges he vehemently denies. While his colleagues were released after a brief detention, Kivumbi remained in custody until his recent bail, only to be seized again by the military. This cycle of re-arrest after judicial relief is not uncommon in Uganda, raising serious concerns about the rule of law and the safety of political dissenters. The situation has prompted Kivumbi's family to file a habeas corpus application, seeking his immediate release. However, a judge's response was less than reassuring, as the court merely instructed the government to investigate his disappearance without ordering his release. Meanwhile, police officials have denied holding him, further complicating the search for accountability. Kivumbi’s enforced disappearance is not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend of unlawful detentions targeting government critics in Uganda. Such actions violate international law and place individuals at significant risk of torture and other human rights abuses. The international community and human rights organizations are calling for the Ugandan authorities to reveal Kivumbi’s location, ensure his safety, and put an end to the ongoing repression of political opposition in the country.
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