Sam Mugumya, a prominent Ugandan
political activist and former close aide to opposition leader Dr. Kizza
Besigye, remains missing following his abduction by armed men in military
uniform. Despite growing public outcry, video evidence indicating his detention,
and legal efforts via a habeas corpus application, state security
agencies continue to deny holding him in their custody.
In August 26, 2025 Mugumya was seized
by unidentified armed men dressed in military attire at the NIM Hotel in
Mbarara Town. Witnesses reported that he was forced into a vehicle and driven
to an undisclosed location. Since his initial abduction, Mugumya’s whereabouts,
legal status, and health condition have remained official mysteries, prompting
his legal team and political allies to file an application for habeas corpus.
On October 26,2026, The High Court in Kampala
convened before Justice Simon Peter Kinobe to hear the habeas corpus
application seeking to compel the state to produce Mugumya in court. Despite
sworn affidavits from both military and police authorities denying custody, the
High Court deferred the matter to November 9 2026 to allow state agencies
additional time for "further investigations”
In formal responses to the High Court, representatives from the armed forces and police submitted affidavits claiming no record or knowledge of Mugumya's detention. However, human rights advocates and political figures point to significant contradictions:
The video evidences, Material
circulating among supporters reportedly shows Mugumya in compromised health
while under restraint, directly challenging official denials.
Figures within opposition movements highlight
prior informal statements and circumstantial evidence pointing toward military
intelligence custody.
Opposition and Civil Society leaders i.e. David
Lewis Rubongoya (NUP) and other leading opposition figures strongly condemned
the government's response, characterizing the state’s stance as inconsistent
with facts on the ground and labeling the court adjournment a delay tactic.
Mugumya's case is viewed as emblematic of a persistent pattern of enforced
disappearances, illegal detentions, and extrajudicial actions targeting
opposition figures across Uganda.
