Former government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo has defended the controversial abduction of opposition figure Muwanga Kivumbi, describing it as part of what he termed “shock therapy” necessary for maintaining order in Uganda.
Kivumbi, a senior member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), was reportedly abducted on Friday by unidentified armed men, just hours after he had been released on bail following months in detention over terrorism-related charges.
Witnesses said he was intercepted along a road in Mpigi District and taken to an unknown location, sparking widespread concern among opposition leaders and civil society actors.
Reacting to the incident, Opondo suggested that Kivumbi’s own remarks may have triggered the swift response from state operatives.
“As soon as Muwanga Kivumbi was threatened, he responded by threatening the State in his remarks, and he was promptly picked up,” Opondo said. “I think that is part of the shock therapy. I think Uganda needs some of these measures.”
His comments are likely to deepen an already polarised debate over the use of force by security agencies against opposition figures.
Critics argue that the abduction reflects a pattern of re-arrests and extra-legal detentions targeting government critics, often shortly after courts grant them bail.
Kivumbi had spent more than five months on remand before securing his release.
His re-arrest or abduction—still not officially clarified by authorities—has raised fresh questions about respect for judicial decisions and due process in Uganda’s justice system.
Opposition leaders have condemned the incident, describing it as a direct affront to the rule of law and an attempt to silence dissent.
However, voices aligned with the government, such as Opondo, maintain that firm action is necessary to deter what they view as provocative or destabilising political rhetoric.