The Uganda Police Force investigators have said that they do not know the whereabouts of at least seven people whose names keep appearing on the list of missing persons.
The missing persons are part of other 66 cases of disappearance reported to the police by the Human Rights Committee of Parliament in March this year for further investigations.
They include; George Kasumba, Agnes Nabwera, Sarah Nanyanzi, Mathew Kigozi, Mathew Kafeero Ibrahim Chekedi and John Damulira. The victims were reportedly picked up by security operatives from areas within Kampala, Greater Masaka, and Mukono during the 2020 campaign period.
The Police Director of Legal Services Erasmus Twaruhukwa says that none of the cases was reported to the Police but the Criminal Intelligence Investigations Department ( CIID ) commenced inquiries into the alleged disappearances upon receipt of the names.
However, Twaruhukwa told our reporter on May 15 that particulars of the complainants provided to them; such as their contacts, addresses and places from where the victims disappeared, were not sufficient, consequently making the investigations difficult.
Last week, Members of the Human Rights Commitee of Parliament demanded to know who operates the ‘drones’ that were used to ‘kidnap’ Ugandans during the election cycle. They were interfacing with top Police commanders, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces ( UPDF ) and officials from the Uganda Prisons Service ( UPS).
However, Jacob Oboth-Oboth, the Minister of State for Defence dismissed the allegations of the kidnaps and operating drones advanced against the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence ( CMI) under the UPDF.
In March this year, the Committee led by Fox Odoi, directed the Minister of Security, Jim Muhwezi to produce seven people who have been reported missing since 2020 arguing that every citizen must be accounted for. But Muhwezi, while appearing before the MPs said that the government was still investigating the matter.
On March 4, 2021, the Minister of Internal Affairs Jeje Odongo released a list of 177 people who had been reported missing after being arrested from within their communities. However, on its count, the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) reported that 680 of its supporters were missing.