Leaked SFC commando WhatsApp chat shows Kivumbi is in basement

A leaked WhatsApp conversation between an unknown opposition NUP MP and an SFC commando has indicated that the missing NUP Deputy President Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi is being held inside the basement and undergoing intense torture.

Human rights lawyers and political leaders are raising alarm over the prolonged incommunicado detention of Muwanga Kivumbi, an opposition activist from the greater Masaka area, whose whereabouts and access to legal representation have remained unclear for weeks.

Family members say Kivumbi was picked up by security personnel in late March and has since not been produced in court, nor allowed contact with lawyers or relatives. “We do not know where he is being held. We have gone to police stations and courts, but no one is giving us information,” a family representative said.

Incommunicado detention refers to holding a suspect without allowing them access to the outside world, including lawyers, family, and medical care. Under Article 23 of the Constitution of Uganda, a person arrested must be brought to court within 48 hours and must not be denied access to legal representation.

Kivumbi is known in his community as a mobilizer and vocal critic of government programs in the area. Supporters argue that his arrest is linked to his political activity ahead of the 2026 elections. Government authorities have not issued a formal public statement on the specific charges against him, and it remains unclear whether he is being held by police, the military, or another security agency.

Lawyers from the Center for Legal Aid and Human Rights have filed a habeas corpus application seeking to compel the state to produce Kivumbi in court. “The law is clear. No one should be disappeared or held incommunicado. It undermines the entire justice system and creates fear,” one of the lawyers told journalists in Kampala this week.

Civil society organizations have also weighed in. The Uganda Human Rights Commission said it has received a complaint and is “following up with relevant authorities to establish the location and legal status of the individual.”

The case has reignited debate about the use of prolonged detention without trial in Uganda. In the past, the government has argued that such measures are necessary for investigations into security-related offenses. Critics counter that the practice violates both domestic law and Uganda’s obligations under international human rights treaties.

Political leaders from the opposition have called for Kivumbi’s immediate release or production in court. “If there is a case to answer, charge him. If there is none, release him. Keeping a Ugandan incommunicado is not justice,” said one MP from the region.

As of this week, Kivumbi had not appeared in any court and family members said they had not received any formal communication from authorities.

Legal experts note that continued incommunicado detention exposes the state to potential lawsuits for unlawful detention and torture. They urge prompt action to ensure transparency and adherence to the rule of law.