Opposition leader Bobi Wine has raised concern over the condition of National Unity Platform (NUP) deputy president for Buganda, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, claiming that he was tortured and is currently receiving medical attention while in security custody.
Bobi Wine said he had received disturbing reports about Kivumbi’s health condition following his reported rearrest by security operatives shortly after he was granted bail by court.
According to Bobi Wine, Kivumbi was allegedly tortured at the Kasenyi Special Forces Command (SFC) barracks and suffered serious injuries before being taken for treatment.
The opposition leader said the reports were worrying because Kivumbi has not been seen publicly since his reported detention, raising questions about his whereabouts.
“We have received disturbing reports alleging that Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi was tortured to near death at Kasenyi SFC military barracks and is now being hidden from the public while receiving treatment before he can be produced,” Bobi Wine reportedly said.
He added that such reports should not be ignored, saying that several opposition figures have previously claimed to have experienced similar situations while in custody.
Bobi Wine claimed that security agencies have failed to explain where Kivumbi is being held, despite repeated demands from his family, lawyers, and political colleagues.
Kivumbi has reportedly not appeared in public since July 11, when he was rearrested shortly after securing bail in a treason-related case.
According to reports, security operatives intercepted him at a roadblock in Mpigi District as he travelled from his home in Butambala to Kampala.
His detention has sparked concern among opposition leaders, who are demanding answers from the government regarding his location and legal status.
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi has also raised the matter in Parliament, asking government to explain where Kivumbi is being held.
Ssenyonyi questioned whether rearresting suspects immediately after court grants them bail was becoming a common practice in the country.
He said Kivumbi’s family, lawyers, and colleagues had struggled to access information about his condition and whereabouts.
Responding to the concerns in Parliament, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business Dr. Crispus Kiyonga said government was consulting security agencies to obtain more information.
Dr. Kiyonga told Parliament that a detailed response would be provided after receiving a report from the relevant security authorities.
The Speaker of Parliament later directed government officials to work with security agencies to ensure that Kivumbi’s family, lawyers, and medical personnel are allowed access to him.
Meanwhile, Kivumbi’s lawyers have reportedly taken legal action by filing a habeas corpus application seeking an order requiring security agencies to produce him before court.
The lawyers want authorities to explain the legal reasons behind his continued detention and confirm his current location.
The allegations of torture and secret detention have increased pressure on security agencies to provide answers about Kivumbi’s situation.
Neither the Uganda Police Force nor the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has publicly confirmed Bobi Wine’s allegations or provided details about Kivumbi’s current condition.
The case has attracted attention from political leaders, human rights advocates, and members of the public who are calling for transparency and respect for legal procedures.
As calls for answers continue, many are waiting for the government’s official response regarding Muwanga Kivumbi’s whereabouts, health condition, and the circumstances surrounding his detention.
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