Security operatives have reportedly abducted Andrew Nabimanya, alias NinyeTabz, a National Unity Platform activist, whistleblower and photojournalist.
NUP secretary general David Lewis Rubongoya said Nabimanya was picked up on Wednesday from Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb.
According to NUP officials, plainclothes operatives travelling in Toyota vans commonly known as “drones” took him away on Wednesday evening.
The vehicles have also been compared by critics to the “panda gari” operations of the 1970s and 1980s.
“We’ve just been informed of the abduction of NinyeTabz from Kamwokya a short while ago. He has been whisked away in a drone. The lawlessness continues!” Rubongoya said.
Opposition Links Incident to Wider Arrests
NUP said the reported arrest forms part of what it describes as continued “silent abductions” targeting opposition supporters and pro-change activists.
The party says such incidents have continued since the January 14-15 general election.
The reported abduction came shortly after security operatives raided the home of former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
Lukwago, who is also president of the People’s Front for Freedom, had spent two days in undisclosed military detention.
He was later presented at Kira Divisional Police Headquarters in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District.
There, he recorded a statement before being charged with misprision of treason and remanded to Luzira Prison.
Ssenyonyi Condemns Reported Abduction
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Nakawa West MP Joel Ssenyonyi also condemned the reported incident.
“The senseless abductions continue. Tabz NinyeTabz has been taken by a drone from Kamwokya!” Ssenyonyi said.
The opposition leader said the continued targeting of mainly NUP supporters was unacceptable.
Nabimanya’s reported arrest also follows his recent online exchange with State Minister for Local Government Justine Nameere.
Nameere had promised to teach him a legal lesson after their social media disagreement.
Whistleblower on Corruption Claims
Nabimanya has been known for making corruption-related claims online.
He has particularly focused on alleged corruption in the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Some of his posts have mentioned matters involving the Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety and Chief Licensing Officer, Winstone Katushabe.
No official police statement on Nabimanya’s whereabouts had been cited by press time.
NUP Alleges Thousands Held
Reports of opposition supporters being abducted have continued since the 2021 elections.
Opposition leaders say the cases increased again in early 2026 ahead of the presidential polls.
Critics have compared the incidents to state abductions witnessed in the 1970s.
They also link the current trend to the rise of Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
NUP alleges that more than 3,000 of its members have been arrested and are being held in different detention facilities.
The party says many of the cases are political and linked to the 2026 elections.
However, security agencies, including the police and army, have consistently denied claims that NUP supporters are being abducted or kidnapped.
They maintain that those detained were lawfully arrested on legitimate criminal and security-related allegations.
