11 days after the seizure of former Butambala County MP and National Unity Platform (NUP) deputy president for Buganda, Muwanga Kivumbi’s seizure at a Police roadblock mounted adjacent to Mpigi central Police Station, the force has come out and denied having the former legislator in custody.
Muwanga’s seizure by heavily armed plain clothed men was recorded at the roadblock manned by four police officers in khaki uniform and two traffic officers.
However, days after his disappearance and petition by his lawyers before the High Court seeking a writ of habeas corpus, asking the court to compel security agencies to produce him, the police has denied holding Kivumbi in an affidavit sworn by ACP Tumugumye Godwin on behalf of the Inspector General Of Police (IGP) before the Civil Division of the High Court, dated 20th July 2026.
In the affidavit, ACP Tumugumye said that Kivumbi wasn’t arrested by officers under the command or supervision of the Inspector General of Police and further noted there isn’t any record indicating any operation involving the arrest or detention of Kivumbi by the force.
“Whereas it is true that the Applicant’s motor vehicle was stopped at a Police checkpoint, he was not arrested, abducted or detained by the Uganda Police Force. The deponent has not identified the alleged police officers or produced any evidence linking the Uganda Police Force to the alleged acts” he said.
ACP Tumugumye further noted that inquiries have been made through the relevant police units and stations, and to date there is no record indicating that Kivumbi in in police custody.
“I have been advised by lawyers from the Attorney General’s Chambers whose advice I believe to be true that a writ of habeas corpus is a remedy available only where there is credible evidence that a person is being unlawfully detained by the Respondent. In the absence of such evidence, the application against the Inspector General of Police cannot stand” he said.
ACP Tumugumye, further asked court to dismiss the writ of habeas corpus application with costs.
Kivumbi was intercepted near Mpigi Police Station while travelling to Kampala from Butambala hours after he had been granted bail by the International Crimes Division of the High Court on terrorism charges.
In the seizure video that went viral online, a police patrol vehicle is seen blocking Kivumbi’s vehicle while a white Toyota Hiace commonly known as a drone waits a short distance away.
A masked Superintendent of Police apparently coordinating the operation is seen speaking on a phone or radio before directing plain-clothed operatives to remove Kivumbi from his vehicle just metres from Mpigi Police Station.
