National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has alleged that detained Butambala County Member of Parliament Muwanga Kivumbi was tortured so severely while in military custody that he is “beyond recognition” and is being concealed from the public as he receives treatment.
The explosive claims, made through statements issued by Bobi Wine and echoed by NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, have heightened concerns over the whereabouts and welfare of the opposition legislator, who has now been missing from public view for more than ten days.
According to Bobi Wine, the party has received credible reports indicating that Kivumbi was allegedly subjected to brutal torture at the Special Forces Command (SFC) military facility in Kasenyi before being transferred for medical treatment under heavy security.
“We’ve received disturbing reports alleging that Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi was tortured to near death at Kasenyi SFC military barracks and is now being hidden from the public while receiving treatment before he can be produced,” Bobi Wine said.
He argued that the reports should not be ignored, citing what he described as a long history of torture against opposition politicians and activists.
“These reports cannot be dismissed lightly. Many of us have gone through similar ordeals at the hands of this regime and were deliberately hidden from the public until our wounds and the evidence of torture had faded,” he said.
Ten Days Without a Trace
Bobi Wine noted that it has now been ten days since Kivumbi was allegedly abducted in broad daylight, saying neither the Uganda Police Force nor the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has publicly accounted for his whereabouts.
“While the regime keeps the country distracted with endless diversions, it’s now ten days since our Deputy President for Buganda Region was abducted in broad daylight and since then, he has never been seen again. Neither the police nor the army have accounted for his whereabouts,” he said.
He challenged the security agencies to immediately disclose where the legislator is being held and allow his family, lawyers and doctors unrestricted access.The NUP leader ended his statement with a direct question that has since become a rallying cry among opposition supporters:”Where is Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi?”
Rubongoya Demands Accountability
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya also condemned what he described as the continued enforced disappearance of the party’s senior official.
Rubongoya said keeping Kivumbi incommunicado violates the Constitution and fundamental human rights.He demanded that the government either charge the legislator before a competent court or release him immediately.
According to Rubongoya, every detainee is entitled to legal representation, access to family members and medical attention, rights he said have been denied to Kivumbi.He warned that enforced disappearances undermine public confidence in the justice system and deepen political tensions.
Growing Anxiety
The allegations have intensified anxiety within opposition ranks, with party leaders saying repeated attempts by family members and lawyers to establish Kivumbi’s whereabouts have been unsuccessful.Supporters have questioned why authorities have remained silent despite widespread public interest in the case.
Human rights activists have also renewed calls for transparency whenever suspects are arrested by military or intelligence agencies, arguing that prolonged incommunicado detention increases the risk of torture and abuse.
The latest claims come against the backdrop of repeated accusations by opposition politicians that security agencies use illegal detention facilities to interrogate political suspects before eventually producing them in court.Government officials have consistently denied operating torture chambers and maintain that all security operations are conducted within the law.
Social Media Erupts
The allegations triggered an outpouring of reactions on social media, with the hashtag #WhereIsMuwangaKivumbi gaining traction as Ugandans demanded answers.Many users called for proof that the MP is alive and urged authorities to allow his relatives and legal team to see him.
One X user wrote, “If Hon. Kivumbi is safe, let the authorities produce him. Keeping silent only fuels speculation.”Another commenter said, “Every Ugandan deserves constitutional protection regardless of political affiliation. Produce him before court or release him.”
Others expressed concern over reports of alleged torture.
“No family should spend days wondering whether their loved one is alive,” another user posted.
However, some social media users urged caution, arguing that the allegations should be independently verified before conclusions are drawn.
“We need facts from all sides. The authorities should address the claims publicly instead of remaining silent,” another commentator wrote.
Calls for Transparency
Opposition leaders insist the government should immediately clarify Kivumbi’s legal status and explain where he is being held.
Lawyers have also argued that prolonged detention without access to counsel or family members violates constitutional safeguards and Uganda’s international human rights obligations.The case is expected to increase pressure on security agencies to publicly account for detainees arrested during politically sensitive operations.
As questions continue to mount, Kivumbi’s family, colleagues and supporters say they remain in the dark over his condition.For now, the question repeatedly posed by Bobi Wine and echoed across social media remains unanswered:
Where is Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi?
At the time of publication, the Uganda Police Force, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), and the Special Forces Command (SFC) had not publicly responded to the allegations cited by NUP. The claims of torture and secret detention remain allegations that have not been independently verified.
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