Former Butambala County Member of Parliament Muwanga Kivumbi has resurfaced at Nateete Police Station, nearly two weeks after his disappearance sparked legal and political concerns across Uganda.
Kivumbi was reportedly dropped at the police station on Wednesday by individuals believed to be state security operatives, ending days of uncertainty over his whereabouts after he was allegedly taken into custody shortly after his release on bail.
He was later transported to Butambala Magistrate’s Court by the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT), according to our reporter.
The former legislator had not been seen in public since 9 July, when his family, lawyers and opposition figures raised concerns that he had been detained without formal explanation.
His reappearance came on the same day the High Court directed senior security officials, including the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney General, to conclude investigations into his disappearance and submit a report to court.
Kivumbi’s disappearance followed his release on bail by the International Crimes Division of the High Court after spending several months on remand over terrorism-related charges.
Court granted him bail on 10 July 2026, but according to his lawyers and opposition leaders, his freedom was short-lived. They said he was intercepted while travelling from Butambala to Kampala and taken away by security personnel.
The incident sparked public debate over whether security agencies had followed the constitutional procedures governing arrests, detention and access to legal representation.
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, raised the matter on the floor of Parliament, demanding answers from government over Kivumbi’s whereabouts and questioning what he described as a growing concern over arrests conducted outside normal legal procedures.
Kivumbi’s lawyers later petitioned the High Court seeking orders compelling authorities to produce him before court or explain the circumstances surrounding his detention.
The court action increased pressure on security agencies, with officials required to account for his whereabouts and the circumstances of his disappearance.
This case also attracted attention from human rights activists and opposition supporters, who argued that keeping a suspect in custody without access to family members, lawyers or court violated constitutional rights.
Government officials had earlier said they were unaware of Kivumbi’s detention, while police maintained that anyone in custody would eventually be presented before court.
Kivumbi, who represented Butambala County in Parliament before leaving office, is facing charges related to alleged violence during the 2026 election period.
Prosecution allegations accuse him and other suspects of involvement in attacks on public facilities and activities intended to intimidate government authorities. Kivumbi and his supporters have denied the accusations, describing the case as politically motivated.
With his return to the public domain, attention is now expected to focus on the circumstances surrounding his two-week detention, who authorised it, and whether authorities followed the required legal procedures.
