Political analyst and columnist Moses Khisa has weighed in on the renewed parliamentary push to account for missing Ugandan activist Sam Mugumya, urging Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa to take a more active role in addressing the matter.
Khisa’s remarks follow an impassioned appeal by Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, who on Tuesday, August 4, challenged the government to produce Mugumya in court nearly a year after his alleged abduction.
Ssenyonyi questioned why authorities have failed to clarify the activist’s whereabouts despite dismissing circulating videos that purportedly show him in detention.
Reacting to the parliamentary exchange, Khisa described the moment as deeply ironic, arguing that Tayebwa—who presided over the session—should have been at the forefront of demanding accountability.
“I just watched a video clip of Joel Ssenyonyi making an impassioned plea on the floor of Parliament for Comrade Sam Mugumya. There is a stark irony here. It should be Brother Tayebwa speaking out for Comrade Mugumya,” Khisa said.
Drawing from personal history, Khisa revealed that he, Tayebwa, and Mugumya were contemporaries at Makerere University, where they shared academic and political experiences during the early 2000s.
He recalled that both Tayebwa and Mugumya were actively involved in the Reform Agenda movement aligned with opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye.
According to Khisa, Mugumya’s activism dates back to his student years, including an incident in 2002 when he was reportedly arrested after attempting to deliver materials linked to Besigye at Bombo military barracks.
He noted that both Mugumya and Tayebwa later played roles in the formation of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), albeit along different political paths.
Khisa emphasized that despite their divergent trajectories, the two shared a bond rooted in political struggle and ideals for governance reform.
He argued that such shared history places a moral obligation on Tayebwa to speak out.
“No compatriot should be stripped of their dignity and denied their freedom without due process, certainly not our brother Sam Mugumya,” he stated, calling for action from leaders within government ranks.
Mugumya, a former aide to Besigye, reportedly went missing in August 2025 under unclear circumstances. Security agencies have denied holding him, even as legal efforts to compel his production in court continue.
Khisa’s intervention adds a personal dimension to an already contentious issue, amplifying pressure on both Parliament and the executive to address concerns over alleged enforced disappearances and the rule of law.