Uganda: Jeema Demands Probe Into Alleged Torture of Sam Mugumya

What the report says

Uganda’s Justice Forum (JEEMA) has called for the immediate appearance of missing opposition activist Sam Mugumya before the High Court and for an independent inquiry into allegations that he was tortured while being held at a military safe house. The appeal, reported by Nile Post and distributed by AllAfrica, comes amid renewed claims about an alleged detention site linked to the Special Forces Command along Entebbe Road.

The party’s statement follows a video released by Lt Herbert Mabonga Matanda, who says he is a former Defence Intelligence and Security officer. In the video and accompanying footage, Mabonga alleged that Mugumya was being held in poor condition and suggested the existence of an unlawful detention facility at Abayita Ababiri. The reported images and location have not been independently verified. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces has rejected the claims, saying they were fabricated and describing Mabonga as a deserter.

JEEMA said the unresolved question of Mugumya’s whereabouts makes the case urgent, especially because a High Court habeas corpus order was issued in September 2025 seeking his production before a competent court. The party also urged access for the Uganda Human Rights Commission and Uganda Law Society to the alleged facility and other detention sites, alongside medical checks for detainees if found there.

According to the report, Mugumya was said to have been arrested by military operatives in Mbarara on August 26, 2025, though the army previously said it had found no record of him in its custody. The dispute highlights continuing concerns in Uganda over enforced disappearance allegations, detention oversight and claims of torture in security facilities.