Former Butambala County MP Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi has narrated what he describes as a terrifying experience during his 19-day disappearance, claiming he was abducted, tortured and held incommunicado before being returned to the criminal justice system.
Kivumbi, who is also the National Unity Platform (NUP) vice-president for Buganda, said his ordeal started just one day after he was released on bail following nearly six months on remand over terrorism-related charges.
According to Kivumbi, he was arrested on July 10 shortly after attending Juma prayers in Butambala and heading towards Kampala.
He said that as his vehicle approached Mpigi Police Station, he found a heavy security presence and was ordered to stop and enter the station.
Kivumbi claims that after realising he was surrounded by security personnel, he stepped out of his vehicle and was immediately forced into a white Toyota Hiace van, commonly known as a “drone”.
He alleges that both uniformed and plain-clothed officers were inside the vehicle and that a hood was placed over his head to prevent him from knowing where he was being taken.
Kivumbi claims he was beaten during the journey and questioned about comments he had made concerning President Yoweri Museveni, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and other government officials.
He said the officers asked him who the real president of Uganda was and allegedly accused him of supporting opposition slogans.
According to his account, the beatings continued until they arrived at a facility he believes was in Entebbe.
Kivumbi said he was taken into a small room where he was allegedly assaulted using electric cables until he could no longer feel parts of his body.
“They thought I was going to die and they stopped,” he said, claiming that a senior officer later criticised the manner in which he had been treated.
He said he suffered serious injuries and struggled with pain but continued eating the food provided because he did not know how long he would remain in detention.
Kivumbi claims a doctor later examined him, provided medication and arranged for him to receive assistance to recover from the injuries.
He said he spent the first 13 days without being told why he was detained or when he would be released.
The former MP said what disturbed him most were sounds of people crying at night, which he claimed came from other detainees being tortured.
On the 14th day, Kivumbi said an officer showed him videos from social media where people had claimed that he was dead.
He said the officer told him that some people believed he had died in detention and questioned why he continued criticising powerful individuals.
Kivumbi said he explained that his criticism was based on the public roles held by those individuals and not personal attacks.
After 19 days, he said officers returned him to another vehicle, covered his head again and later dropped him at Nateete Police Station.
It was there, according to Kivumbi, that he was finally allowed to contact his lawyer before being taken to court.
He was later charged with managing an unlawful society and inciting violence and remanded back to Kitalya Prison.
Despite the alleged torture and detention, Kivumbi said he has no plans to withdraw from politics, insisting that remaining silent would give his opponents what they want.
He maintained that his commitment to political activism remains strong and that he will continue speaking out despite the challenges he has faced.
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