Disappearance of Ugandan activist Sam Mugumya

Following his reported abduction from a hotel in Mbarara City in August 2025, the whereabouts of opposition activist Sam Mugumya have become a subject of intense political and legal scrutiny in Uganda.

In early October 2026, Uganda’s Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, demanded government accountability after social media footage appeared showing Mugumya in a disabled state. While the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) denied holding him, political figures alleged he was being detained in an Entebbe safe house. Ssenyonyi emphasized that any accused individuals should be formally charged and produced in court rather than held in undisclosed locations.

By late October 2026, the matter moved to the judiciary. The High Court Civil Division in Kampala issued a habeas corpus order, directing the Attorney General to file a report by November 9, 2026. Justice Simon Peter Kinobe ordered the disclosure of whether Mugumya is in lawful custody, his specific location, and any pending charges. The court noted that failure to comply could result in summoning responsible officers.