Police and army authorities have denied holding in custody a National Unity Platform (NUP) supporter who was allegedly abducted from Nansana, Wakiso district.
The missing person has been identified as Teddy Nalubowa, and according to her family, she left her rented house in Kyebando, Nansana Municipality in the evening of August 28,2022 after receiving a phone call.
Nalubowa’s sister, Diana Byeganje, says that her sister’s roommate said that at around 6:00 pm when Nalubowa received the call, she informed her that she was heading to Nansana Trading Centre to meet someone with a promise to return shortly.
The family claims that Nalubowa was stopped around Masitowa area by armed men traveling in a minibus popularly known as “drone”, credited to the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), who then kidnapped her. She has not been seen and her phone has been off since then.
Byeganje says that they first took her to Nansana Police Station then relocated to an undisclosed destination.
“We don’t stay together, but the neighbours saw her being stopped along the way while on a Boda-boda and put in a drone vehicle. She was driven to Nansana Police station where she was detained shortly and later transferred to an unknown destination,” Byeganje said.
At Nansana Police Station, the family was told that Nalubowa was being held by the army which prompted them to go to Mbuya Army barracks. However, the security at the barracks has continuously turned them away since last week saying that they do not hold civilians.
“We went to Nansana Police, and some officers confirmed that she was held by the army, and we followed up to Mbuya the whole of last week. We have been visiting Mbuya military barracks, but we are turned away at the entrance by soldiers saying they don’t detain civilians there,” Byeganje noted.
According to Byeganje, Nalubowa’s trouble originates from a video she posted on her social media reportedly celebrating the death of fallen General Elly Tumwine.
However, they are concerned that she could be subject to torture her NUP colleagues have undergone following such arrests.
The Nansana West Ward Councilor, John Bosco Sserunkuma, has reprimanded security agencies for illegal kidnap and capture of Ugandans.
National Unity Platform response
The NUP party, led by party president Robert Kyagulanyi, have cried out for the release of Nalubowa, taking to their social media saying that their efforts to locate her have been futile.
The NUP General Secretary, David Lewis Rubongoya, took to twitter to express his frustration.
“I can’t imagine what my comrade must be going through after six days of illegal detention! Our legal team is doing its best to locate her without success!” the tweet reads in part.
However, he said that they will not stop trying to recover her and extended his consolations.
“Wherever you are Tracy, know that we’re rooting and praying for you, as we continue to demand and work for your freedom,” Rubongoya twitted.
Police and army responses
The Uganda Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, refused to comment on the matter and referred inquiries to the army spokesperson Brigadier General Felix Kulayigye.
Kulayigye said that the army does not have Nalubowa in custody.
Source: pulse.ug
