Security agencies have yet to publicly disclose the whereabouts of former Butambala County MP Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, who was taken away near Mpigi Police Station on July 10, a day after securing bail.
Kivumbi’s lawyers and family say they have searched police stations in Mpigi and Kampala without establishing where he is being held.
Uganda Police Force spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke has not confirmed whether Kivumbi is in police custody. He said that if any security agency was holding him, he would be produced before court at the appropriate time.
Footage circulated after the incident appears to show uniformed police officers and plain-clothed operatives intercepting Kivumbi’s vehicle near Mpigi Police Station.
A police patrol vehicle is seen blocking his car before plain-clothed men remove him and place him in a waiting Toyota Hiace, commonly referred to in Uganda as a “drone”.
Media reports based on the footage and police sources said a senior police officer appeared to be coordinating the operation. Police have, however, not officially identified the officers involved or explained the legal basis for Kivumbi’s arrest.
One of Kivumbi’s lawyers, Samuel Muyizi, said the legal team filed a habeas corpus application at the International Crimes Division of the High Court seeking an order compelling the authorities to produce him before court.
The application reportedly names Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba as respondents.
The court granted the Attorney General more time to respond to the application and scheduled the matter to return on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.
Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi raised Kivumbi’s disappearance in Parliament on July 14, saying neither his family nor opposition leaders had been able to trace him.
Attorney General Sam Mayanja told Parliament that the government would investigate the circumstances and return to the House with a detailed report.
Mayanja acknowledged that Uganda’s Constitution requires arrested people to be informed of the reasons for their arrest, detained only in legally authorised places and produced before court within 48 hours.
The Uganda Law Society has also called on the police, the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces and other security agencies to disclose Kivumbi’s location and the legal basis for his detention.
Re-arrested after securing bail
The International Crimes Division granted Kivumbi and 16 co-accused bail on Thursday, July 9, after they had spent 169 days on remand.
Kivumbi was granted cash bail of Shs10 million, while each of the 16 co-accused was required to pay Shs1 million. Six other applicants were not immediately released because of issues concerning their sureties.
Kivumbi was intercepted the following day while travelling from Butambala towards Kampala.
He and his co-accused face terrorism-related charges arising from violence surrounding the January 2026 general elections in Butambala District.
Prosecutors allege that the accused participated in attacks on Kibibi Police Station and election-related facilities and damaged vehicles and other property. Kivumbi and his co-accused deny the charges.
National Unity Platform leaders and supporters gathered for prayers at the home of former Butambala Woman MP Aisha Kabanda on Monday as they continued demanding information about Kivumbi’s condition and whereabouts.