The Uganda People’s Defence Forces has denied holding opposition politician Sam Mugumya at any of their detention facilities.
In a letter dated 11th September 2025, the Director Civil Affairs at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, in the Department of Joint Staff Legal Services, Lt Col Edgar Musasizi said Mugumya has never been in the custody of the forces.
“For and on behalf of the Chief of Defence Forces and Directorate of Defence Intelligence and Security, in obedience to the writ, I do satisfy and return that Sam Mugumya has not at any material time been in the custody of the respondents in this matter” he said.
Lt Col Musasizi was responding to the Kampala High Court Civil Division habeas corpus order issued by Judge Collins Acellam directing the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, directorate of intelligence and security and the Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka to produce Sam Mugumya Dead or Alive before a competent court within seven days.
“We have searched all relevant detention facilities’ records and found no entry relating to the said Sam Mugumya between 26th august 2025 and to date” Musasizi said.
Musasizi noted that his department has made inquiries about Mugumya’s whereabouts in all detention facilities under the control of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and directorate of intelligence and security to no avail.
“We caused inquiries to be made in all detention facilities under the command of the 1st and 2nd respondents and no officer in the different units under the command of the 1st and 2nd respondent has knowledge of the said Sam Mugumya” he said.
Musasizi added, “I therefore confirm that the said Sam Mugumya is not within our custody and we do not know about his whereabouts”.
On 6th September Judge Acellam ordered for the release of Besigye’s former aide Mugumya who was allegedly arrested by military operatives on August 26th in Mbarara City and is currently detained at Mbuya, in Kampala by the directorate of intelligence and security.
At the time, Mugumya’s lawyer Tumusiime Kakuru noted in his affidavit that Mugumya who is seeking to represent Rukungiri Municipality in parliament under the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), is unconstitutionally being held in the military facility without charge or court appearance.
During a recent interview on Next Radio, the UPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye they didn’t know the whereabouts of Sam Mugumya since he has a history of disappearing.
With the security forces distancing themselves from the alleged abduction of Mugumya, it remains to be seen whether Mugumya will brought before a court and charged by security forces as has become the norm with members of the opposition who have been abducted by armed gunmen in public recently.
