Wild Goose Chase for Muwanga Kivumbi Ends at Nateete Police

What the report says

Nile Post reports that former Butambala County MP Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi reappeared at Nateete Police Station after 19 days in which his family, lawyers and National Unity Platform officials said they did not know where he was. Kivumbi, who is NUP’s deputy president for the Buganda Region, was then taken under heavy security to Butambala Chief Magistrate’s Court. The development came as the High Court in Kampala was due to continue hearing a habeas corpus application filed to compel authorities to produce him.

According to the report, Kivumbi’s family said the episode began on July 10 near Mpigi Police Station, a day after he had obtained bail from the High Court. His brother, Hajj Musa Lutaaya, alleged that their vehicle was stopped at a checkpoint and that Kivumbi was removed by security personnel and driven away. NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya said party officials learned of Kivumbi’s presence at Nateete while following up the court application, and claimed he had been held incommunicado.

Police and the military had denied holding Kivumbi. Nile Post cites court filings in which Assistant Commissioner of Police Godwin Tumugumye said police records did not show an arrest or detention, while Lt Col Edgar Musasizi, filing for the Chief of Defence Forces, said checks of UPDF detention facilities found Kivumbi was not in military custody. Justice Collins Acellam had earlier declined to issue an immediate habeas corpus order, directing security agencies to investigate and update court.

At Butambala Magistrate’s Court, Nile Post reports that Kivumbi was charged with incitement of violence and managing an unlawful society. The circumstances of his disappearance, where he was during the 19 days, and how he came to be at Nateete Police remain unclear.