Opposition politician Muwanga Kivumbi was on Wednesday produced before the Butambala Chief Magistrate’s Court, nearly three weeks after his reported abduction, in a case that has intensified scrutiny over alleged state repression.
Kivumbi, a senior figure in the National Unity Platform (NUP), resurfaced after what party leaders describe as a 20-day enforced disappearance following his arrest by unidentified security operatives.
His sudden reappearance came after days of legal pressure and public concern over his whereabouts.
Reacting to the development, NUP leader Bobi Wine claimed Kivumbi had been subjected to daily torture during his detention, leaving him with multiple injuries.
“Twenty days9 after his televised abduction and subsequent disappearance, Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi resurfaced today at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Butambala,” he said in a statement.
He further alleged that authorities had consistently denied holding Kivumbi, even filing affidavits in court to that effect.
“Until today when JATT security operatives drove him to court, the regime had denied knowledge of his whereabouts,” Bobi Wine stated.
In court, Kivumbi was charged with offences linked to incitement and unlawful assembly, accusations prosecutors tie to remarks he allegedly made to supporters after a previous release on bail. He denied the charges.
The magistrate ordered his remand until August 11, when his bail application is expected to be heard.
However, concerns have emerged after reports indicated he was taken to an undisclosed detention facility, raising further questions about his safety and access to legal representation.
Kivumbi’s case has drawn widespread attention within Uganda’s opposition circles, with activists and political leaders citing it as part of a broader pattern of arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances.
Bobi Wine reiterated calls for accountability, expressing solidarity with detained and missing opposition supporters.
“We continue to stand in solidarity with him and all other comrades who remain unlawfully detained or missing,” he said.