UPDF to High Court: We have Searched Intensively but Cannot Locate Sam Mugumya

The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) have formally refuted claims that activist Sam Mugumya is in their custody.

The Forces have told High Court that an extensive search for Mugumya, who was allegedly abducted on August 26, 2025, in Mbarara City, have yielded no results.

In a sworn return to a writ of habeas corpus, Lt Col Edgar Musasizi, the Director of Civil Affairs at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, said he had conducted the search on behalf of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and the Directorate of Defence and Intelligence Security.

“We have searched all relevant Defence Detention Facilities’ records and found no entry relating to the said Sam Mugumya between 26th August 2025 and todate,” swore Col Musasizi in the writ of habeas corpus drawn by Attorney General’s Chambers on 11 September 2025.

Earlier this week, the Defence Director for Information, Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye, had also said “the UPDF has searched everywhere, but we have not been able to find him.”

“We are not involved in his disappearance and continue to support efforts to locate him,” Kulayigye further stated.

The case has raised alarm among human rights organizations and political activists.

“We are deeply concerned about Mr. Mugumya’s disappearance,” said a representative of a local human rights group.

“We call on authorities to ensure transparency and accountability in establishing his whereabouts.”

Mugumya, a former aide to jailed opposition leader Col (Rtd) Kiiza Besigye, was released from Ndolo Prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo last year, where he had been held without trial since 2014. He recently announced his candidacy for the Rukungiri Municipality parliamentary seat on the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) ticket.

The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has said it deployed teams from Mbarara, Fort Portal, and Kampala to investigate, coordinating closely with security and intelligence agencies.

“Our teams are actively working to establish his location and ensure his safety,” said a UHRC official.

Members of the PFF in Mbarara City have stepped up efforts to trace Mugumya, voicing fears over what they term as “a growing pattern of abductions and disappearances of opposition figures ahead of the general elections.”

“We are calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners and an end to these unlawful abductions,” said a PFF spokesperson.

The situation remains tense as multiple stakeholders continue working to locate Sam Mugumya and secure his safety.