Bobi Wine alleges Muwanga Kivumbi tortured to near death in military detention, demands his release

National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has alleged that the party’s Deputy President for Buganda, Muwanga Kivumbi, was tortured while in military detention and is being concealed from the public.

In a post on his X Tuesday morning, Bobi Wine said the party had received “disturbing reports” claiming that Kivumbi was tortured “to near death” at Kasenyi Special Forces Command (SFC) military barracks and is currently receiving treatment before being presented to the public.

“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 added that the reports should not be dismissed, arguing that several opposition members had previously experienced similar treatment while in state custody.

“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.

According to Bobi Wine, it has now been ten days since Kivumbi was allegedly abducted in broad daylight, and 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 10 days since our Deputy President for the 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.

The NUP leader demanded that authorities disclose Kivumbi’s whereabouts and ensure his immediate release or production before a competent court if he is being lawfully detained.

“Where is Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi?” Bobi Wine asked.

As of publication, neither the Uganda Police Force nor the UPDF had publicly responded to the allegations or confirmed Kivumbi’s whereabouts. The claims of torture have also not been independently verified.

Kivumbi, who serves as the Member of Parliament for Butambala County and NUP’s Deputy President for Buganda, has been missing for now more than ten days following what the opposition describes as an abduction.

His disappearance has drawn concern from opposition leaders and supporters, who continue to demand information on his whereabouts.