Africa-Press. Concerns are rising in Uganda regarding the fate of Mwanga Kifumbi, a prominent leader in the opposition National Unity Platform party led by Bobi Wine, after his disappearance on July 10, just one day after being released on bail following six months of detention on charges related to subversive activities, which he denies.
According to his lawyer, Kifumbi was traveling from Butambala to the capital Kampala when a group of armed individuals, some in official uniforms, intercepted his vehicle in the Mbeere area, forced him out, and took him away in a civilian truck to an unknown location. Since then, no official entity has announced his whereabouts.
Hours before his disappearance, Kifumbi stated in an interview with a local radio station that he no longer feared returning to prison, affirming that his previous detention had strengthened his convictions, despite denying the charges against him.
On July 21, Bobi Wine announced via his account on a social media platform that he had received information indicating that Kifumbi had been tortured “almost to death” and that he was still being held incommunicado, questioning his whereabouts and the reasons for his detention.
Human rights advocate Livingston Syuanyana believes that this case reflects the increasing phenomenon of enforced disappearances and detention in unofficial locations, targeting political opponents and depriving them of legal guarantees and protection from mistreatment.
Political analyst Godber Tumushabe views Kifumbi’s disappearance as part of a broader strategy to intimidate the opposition, noting that the missing leader serves as the deputy president of the National Unity Platform party in the Buganda region, the party’s main stronghold, and is considered close to Bobi Wine, making his absence a significant blow to the opposition.
The Ugandan police and army have confirmed that they are not holding Kifumbi, and the army has denied having any information regarding the circumstances of his disappearance, while his lawyers have filed a lawsuit to compel the authorities to disclose his whereabouts and present him before the courts.
