Mounting pressure is being placed on Uganda’s security agencies after fresh denials over the whereabouts of former Butambala MP Muwanga Kivumbi, deepening uncertainty around his alleged disappearance.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has formally denied any involvement in Kivumbi’s alleged abduction or detention, stating in a sworn affidavit before the High Court that he is not in military custody.
The development mirrors an earlier position taken by the police, who also distanced themselves from the matter.
Reacting to the twin denials, National Unity Platform (NUP) Secretary General David Rubongoya cast doubt on the credibility of the security agencies, citing previous incidents where authorities allegedly denied holding individuals only for them to later reappear in custody.
“The military has also filed an affidavit denying knowledge of the whereabouts of Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi. They state that they did not abduct him and that he's not under their custody,” Rubongoya said.
He added that similar patterns had been observed in past cases involving opposition figures and foreign nationals, where officials reportedly denied involvement under oath before later producing the individuals.
“We've seen these kinds of denials before… they lied on oath that they didn't have them, only to produce them days or weeks later,” he stated, raising concerns about accountability within the security system.
Rubongoya further noted that in ordinary circumstances, officers found to have provided false testimony would face legal consequences, including possible perjury charges.
However, he expressed hope that Kivumbi would soon be produced to end the anxiety surrounding his disappearance.
“Hopefully they will soon produce Hon. Kivumbi and take away the incredible pain that has engulfed his family and friends,” he said, before posing a direct question: “Where is Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi?”
The UPDF, in its affidavit, maintained that it had conducted checks across all gazetted detention facilities under its control and found no record of Kivumbi being held.
It also argued that the application for a writ of habeas corpus lacks sufficient evidence linking the military to the alleged detention.
The case has drawn significant public attention, with legal proceedings ongoing to compel security agencies to account for Kivumbi’s whereabouts.
The High Court is expected to rule on whether the application meets the threshold for issuing orders requiring his production.