KAMPALA, Uganda – Concern is mounting over the whereabouts of Ugandan opposition politician Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, who has not been seen in public for 10 days after reportedly being intercepted by security operatives shortly after he was granted bail.
Former Butambala County Member of Parliament and senior member of the National Unity Platform (NUP) was last seen on 11 July 2026, a day after the International Crimes Division of the High Court granted him bail in a treason case.
His disappearance has sparked concern among his family, lawyers, political colleagues and human rights advocates, who are demanding answers from the authorities.
According to his lawyers and the National Unity Platform, Kivumbi was travelling from court towards Kampala when the vehicle he was travelling in was intercepted near Mpigi Police Station.
Witnesses said he was taken away by armed security personnel shortly after his release.
Since then, neither his family nor his legal team say they have been able to establish where he is being held.
The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear.
Uganda Police spokesperson ACP Rusoke Kituuma has said the police are not in a position to confirm Kivumbi’s whereabouts.
Speaking to journalists, Kituuma said that if Kivumbi is being held by any security agency, he will be produced before court at the appropriate time, but did not specify which agency, if any, has custody of the opposition legislator.
The statement has done little to ease concerns, as no official agency has publicly acknowledged detaining him.
Who is Muwanga Kivumbi?
Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi is the former Member of Parliament for Butambala County and one of Uganda’s most prominent opposition politicians.
He serves as the Deputy President for Buganda Region in the National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda’s largest opposition party led by Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
A lawyer by profession, Kivumbi has represented Butambala County in Parliament since 2021 and is known for his outspoken criticism of the government, particularly on issues of governance, accountability, human rights and the rule of law.
He also served on different parliamentary committees and has been actively involved in debates on security and constitutional matters.
Kivumbi was arrested on 22 January 2026 following violence that prosecutors say occurred after Uganda’s 15 January general elections.
According to the prosecution, between 11 and 17 January 2026, Kivumbi and several others allegedly took part in acts intended to intimidate the government for political purposes in Kibibi and Gombe Town Councils in Butambala District.
Prosecutors allege that the accused attacked Kibibi Police Station, targeted the Butambala Electoral Commission tally centre, damaged sections of the Butambala-Gomba Road, and destroyed several vehicles.
He was subsequently charged with treason and related offences before the International Crimes Division of the High Court.
Kivumbi has denied all the charges. His lawyers maintain that the prosecution is politically motivated and insist that he has committed no offence.
According to his associates, they believe the latest arrest may be linked to remarks he made after his release, in which he sharply criticised President Yoweri Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni, CDF Muhoozi and former Speaker Anita Among.
Kivumbi’s disappearance has prompted renewed calls for transparency from opposition leaders, lawyers and civil society organisations.
His legal team says every person arrested or detained is entitled to constitutional protections, including being informed of the reasons for their detention and being brought before a competent court within the time required by law.
Human rights organisations have also urged the government to clarify Kivumbi’s whereabouts and ensure that his legal rights are respected.
Uganda has in recent years witnessed several cases in which opposition politicians, activists and government critics have reportedly been arrested by security personnel after court proceedings or released on bail, with authorities later facing questions about their whereabouts.
Government officials have repeatedly stated that all security operations are conducted within the law and that individuals facing criminal charges are processed through the justice system.
As Kivumbi remains unaccounted for, attention is likely to remain on the government and security agencies to explain his whereabouts.
If he is being held by a state agency, legal experts say the authorities are expected to disclose his place of detention and facilitate his appearance before the courts in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, his lawyers say they will continue pursuing legal avenues to establish his whereabouts and secure his release.
