Opposition Sounds Alarm Over Missing Former MP Kivumbi

Members of Parliament on the opposition side are raising serious concerns following the disappearance of former Butambala County MP, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi. He was reportedly intercepted by armed security operatives on Friday, July 11, 2026, a day after being granted bail.

Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, brought the matter to Parliament’s attention on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. He stated that Kivumbi was granted bail on Thursday, July 10, 2026. The following day, while en route from Butambala to Kampala, he was allegedly forced into a “drone,” a vehicle commonly used by security operatives.

Since Friday, neither Kivumbi’s family nor his colleagues in the opposition have been able to ascertain his location. Ssenyonyi highlighted that this situation appears to be part of a disturbing pattern of enforced disappearances that disregard established legal procedures.

Ssenyonyi emphasized that Article 23 of the Constitution clearly outlines the rights of arrested individuals. These rights include being informed of the reasons for arrest, detention only in legally sanctioned locations, and production before a court within 48 hours. He questioned the justification for Kivumbi’s disappearance, especially if it was related to remarks made after his release, asserting that only courts, not security agencies, can determine criminal liability.

The opposition leader drew parallels to previous incidents involving opposition politicians, such as the rearrests of MPs Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana outside Kigo Prison in 2021, and the arrest of former MP Paul Akamba in 2024 outside the court precincts shortly after securing bail.

In response, Attorney General Sam Mayanja assured Parliament that the government would investigate the matter thoroughly and return with a detailed report, stressing that Uganda operates under constitutionalism and that the law would be upheld. “Tomorrow is not far. We shall return before Parliament with all the facts and ensure that the Constitution, which we all swore to protect, is indeed protected,” Mayanja stated.

Source: https://www.howwe.ug/news/entertainment/43301/opposition-demands-for-kivumbi-whereabouts