Political activist and photojournalist Andrew Natumanya, widely known as Ninyez Tabz, has broken his silence following his recent abduction in Kampala, offering new details about the incident and his time in detention.
Speaking during an interview on NBS Television, Natumanya described the moment he was seized, stating that the violence he experienced was limited to the initial stages of the operation.
“The only time I was beaten was during the abduction. For the days I was detained, I wasn’t beaten,” he said, suggesting a distinction between the manner of arrest and the conditions of his confinement.
According to Natumanya, the men who abducted him were armed and operated with force, intimidating members of the public who attempted to intervene.
“These guys were carrying arms. They were pointing them at whoever tried to intervene,” he revealed, pointing to what witnesses earlier described as a coordinated and forceful operation in Kamwokya.
He further disclosed that his interrogators focused heavily on his sources of information.
Natumanya said he was questioned about who had been feeding him information, to which he responded that it was an individual he had gone to meet in Kamwokya.
The same gentleman, he added, allegedly informed the abductors that he had left his phone behind, raising questions about possible surveillance or infiltration within his circles.
In addition, Natumanya said he was questioned about his links to an organisation identified as Agora. He denied any formal affiliation but defended the group’s work.
“I don’t work with them, but they are doing great work. That’s why they are being questioned left, right and center,” he said.
His account adds to growing concerns among opposition figures and civil society actors over a rising pattern of abductions targeting activists and government critics.
While authorities have not officially commented on the incident, pressure continues to mount for transparency and accountability regarding such operations.
Natumanya’s revelations are likely to intensify debate over security conduct, civil liberties, and the safety of activists in Uganda’s current political climate.