Kampala, Uganda – Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, the deputy spokesperson of the National Unity Platform (NUP), was violently abducted by plain-clothed military operatives outside the Kawempe Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon.
The incident, which unfolded in broad daylight, has ignited fresh outrage and fears of an escalating state crackdown just months ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Eyewitnesses and party officials, including Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, described how Mufumbiro was seized, forced into a silver Toyota Noah (registration UAK 368K), and driven to an unknown location, all while attending a court hearing for detained party members.
Mufumbiro, an aspiring MP for Nakawa East, was abduction as he was heading to Kawempe court to attend the proceedings related to Eddie Mutwe, a NUP mobiliser whose case has drawn significant attention. According to Ssenyonyi, who was present at the court:
“On his way out, he was violently grabbed and pushed by the military into a Noah… and taken to an unknown place. The cowardice and criminality of the regime are baffling!”
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke later claimed no knowledge of the incident, stating, “I don’t have any information regarding the arrest or whereabouts of Alex Mufumbiro”.
Mufumbiro is not the first NUP member to face such treatment. His abduction comes amid a wave of arrests targeting opposition figures like Calvin Tasi (aka Bobi Giant), a security aide to NUP leader Bobi Wine, who was arrested days earlier and charged with unlawful military drills.
Eddie Mutwe, another close associate of Wine, was previously abducted. The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, later joked on X that Mutwe was learning Runyankore.
Habib Buwembo (Head of Mobilisation) and Jonathan Okware (Teso Regional Coordinator) were also recently detained in what the party calls a coordinated effort to stifle dissent.
These incidents are not isolated. In February 2025, Ssenyonyi raised an alarm in Parliament over seven missing NUP members, including the head of mobilisation, Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu.
Despite demands for accountability, government has repeatedly denied targeting political opponents, insisting that arrests are lawful and based on suspicion of criminal activity. President Museveni’s administration maintains that security agencies operate within the law.
However, opposition leaders and human rights advocates remain skeptical. They point to a documented history of abductions, torture, and prolonged detention without trial, a pattern that aligns with broader accusations of state-sanctioned political repression.
With general elections scheduled for 2026, the abduction of key opposition figures signals a troubling intensification of political tensions. President Museveni, in power since 1986, is widely expected to seek another term. NUP, led by Bobi Wine, positions itself as the main challenger but operates in an environment where dissent comes with high risks.
The use of courts as sites of repression is especially symbolic. Courts should be sanctuaries of justice, but in Uganda, as in other authoritarian-leaning states, they are increasingly stages for political theatre and intimidation.
As of now, Mufumbiro’s whereabouts remain unknown. NUP has vowed to pursue all legal and political avenues to secure his release, but history suggests this may be an uphill battle.
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