The National Unity Platform (NUP) has renewed pressure on Ugandan authorities to account for the whereabouts of a missing supporter, weeks after his alleged abduction in Kampala.
NUP president David Rubongoya says artiste King Zale, a known party supporter, has not been seen since April 21 when he was reportedly seized by armed men in Kamwokya.
According to Rubongoya, the incident occurred in broad daylight and in the presence of multiple witnesses, raising fresh concerns about enforced disappearances.
Despite efforts by family members and legal representatives to trace him, his whereabouts remain unknown.
Rubongoya noted that a legal attempt to compel the state to produce Zale hit a dead end last week after the High Court closed a Habeas Corpus application.
The court decision followed responses from both police and the military, who denied holding the missing artiste in their custody.
However, NUP leaders have questioned the credibility of those claims, citing previous cases where individuals initially denied by state agencies later resurfaced.
Rubongoya referenced a similar incident involving Kenyan nationals, where a court ruled it could not compel the state without evidence of custody, only for the individuals to later be produced and deported.
He argued that such precedents undermine public confidence in official responses.
“This is a person who was taken in full view of the public. He has a family—his mother, wife, and children—who are still searching for answers,” Rubongoya said, calling on authorities to present Zale before court if he is facing any charges.
Human rights advocates in Uganda have repeatedly raised alarm over alleged unlawful detentions and abductions, particularly involving opposition supporters.
The latest case is likely to intensify scrutiny on security agencies amid ongoing political tensions.
Rubongoya urged citizens and civil society groups to speak out against what he described as growing impunity, warning that silence could normalize enforced disappearances.