Uganda’s opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) has claimed that its Deputy President for Buganda, Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi, was arrested on Thursday morning by state security officials, raising fresh concerns over the treatment of opposition leaders.
In a statement shared on X, the party said Kivumbi was picked up by security operatives and that his whereabouts remain unknown.
NUP described the arrest as the latest in a series of detentions targeting its senior officials, particularly during politically sensitive periods.
“This is now the third Deputy President to be arrested,” the party said, linking Kivumbi’s detention to earlier incidents involving Lina Zedriga and Jolly Jacklyn Tukamushaba.
According to NUP, the two officials were arrested on voting day in separate incidents that the party has previously described as abductions.
The opposition party accused security agencies of intimidation and harassment aimed at weakening its leadership and disrupting its political activities.
It called for the immediate release of Kivumbi or, at a minimum, disclosure of his place of detention and the reasons for his arrest.
There was no immediate comment from the Uganda Police Force or other security agencies regarding Kivumbi’s reported arrest.
Government authorities have in the past denied allegations of targeting opposition figures, maintaining that all arrests are carried out within the law.
Kivumbi, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Butambala County, is a prominent figure within NUP and has been vocal on governance and accountability issues.
His reported arrest adds to ongoing tensions between the opposition and the state, amid continued scrutiny of Uganda’s political environment and respect for civil liberties.