Ten Days Missing: Prayers, pressure and unanswered questions over Muwanga Kivumbi’s disappearance
The Leader of the Opposition also renewed calls for investigations into the killing of 10 people at Kivumbi's home on election night, saying those responsible should be brought to justice.
Leaders of the National Unity Platform (NUP) on Sunday joined residents of Butambala District for special Dua prayers in solidarity with the party’s Deputy President for Buganda, Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi, who the party says has been missing for 10 days following his alleged abduction.
The prayers, held in Kalamba, Butambala District, were attended by NUP Acting President John Baptist Nambeshe, Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, party supporters and local residents.
In a statement, NUP said Kivumbi has remained incommunicado since his alleged abduction on July 10, 2026, and called on authorities to either produce him before a competent court or release him.
“Ten days since his abduction, our Deputy President for Buganda Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi remains missing and under incommunicado detention,” the party said.
Addressing mourners after the prayers, Ssenyonyi described Kivumbi’s continued detention without access to his family or lawyers as unacceptable.
“Today we were in Kalamba, Butambala District, for Dua prayers in solidarity with Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi, who remains missing after his abduction on 10th July 2026. It is unacceptable for the state to continue holding him in incommunicado detention all this while,” Ssenyonyi said.
The Leader of the Opposition also renewed calls for investigations into the killing of 10 people at Kivumbi’s home on election night, saying those responsible should be brought to justice.
“We also demand justice for the 10 people who were killed at his home on election night,” he added.
Meanwhile, social activist Agather Atuhaire said Kivumbi’s disappearance reflects what she described as a growing pattern of enforced disappearances in the country.
In a statement posted on social media, Atuhaire noted that Kivumbi joins several other individuals whose whereabouts remain unknown, including journalist Gideon Tugume, who she said has been missing for 14 days, Sam Mugumya, who has allegedly been missing for 330 days, and JohnBosco Kibalama, whom she said has been missing for more than 2,500 days.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns over reports of enforced disappearances and prolonged incommunicado detention, urging authorities to uphold constitutional guarantees on personal liberty and due process.
By press time, security agencies had not publicly commented on the latest statements by NUP leaders or Atuhaire regarding Kivumbi’s whereabouts. The government has previously maintained that security operations are conducted within the law.
The case is likely to intensify political debate as pressure mounts on authorities to clarify Kivumbi’s status and address concerns raised by his family, political colleagues and human rights advocates.
