Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has responded to growing public concern over the reported abduction of investigative journalist Andrew Natumanya, popularly known as Ninyez Tabz, saying he would establish which security unit may be holding him.
The remarks come amid rising pressure on security agencies to account for Natumanya’s whereabouts after reports emerged that he was intercepted in Kamwokya by armed men and taken away in an unmarked vehicle commonly referred to as a “drone.”
The incident, first highlighted by opposition leaders, has drawn widespread criticism from political figures and rights advocates who have demanded clarity on whether the journalist is in lawful custody or has been subjected to an enforced disappearance.
Gen. Muhoozi’s comments appeared to acknowledge uncertainty within the security establishment regarding the journalist’s location, while also pointing to the country’s multiple intelligence and security units.
Uganda’s security architecture includes several agencies operating under different mandates, including military intelligence and internal security structures, which often handle politically sensitive arrests and investigations.
The CDF’s statement has, however, done little to calm public concern, with critics arguing that it underscores long-standing questions about coordination and accountability within the security system, particularly in cases involving political activists, journalists, and government critics.