Former Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura has spoken out following the reported abduction and detention of Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, amid rising political tension linked to remarks and social media posts by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The developments have triggered intense debate over alleged mistreatment during detention and renewed concerns about the treatment of opposition figures in Uganda’s increasingly charged political environment.
The controversy intensified after Muhoozi Kainerugaba shared images appearing to show Lukwago in what he described as detention or “torture chambers,” alongside statements signalling tougher action against opposition figures.
The posts triggered immediate backlash from political leaders and rights groups, who raised questions over the legality of the detention and the public circulation of the images, describing the situation as alarming and potentially harmful to institutional accountability.
Nyanjura said the developments have left her deeply unsettled, describing an emotional strain felt by many Ugandans.
“Do you know those heavy, unexplainable days? The ones where insomnia and exhaustion hit at the same time, making it impossible to sleep but impossible to get out of bed… Your mind is spinning, your head is pounding… These are very dark days,” she stated.
She further observed that the unfolding events have created a sense of anxiety and fatigue among citizens, who are struggling to process the speed and severity of political developments.
Her remarks reflect broader concerns within opposition circles about what they describe as increasing political pressure and the normalisation of military involvement in civilian affairs, especially in handling dissent and political mobilisation.