High Court Judge Simon Peter Kinobe has issued a stern warning to the Inspector General of Police and other security officials, threatening to hold them in contempt of court for failing to account for the disappearance of People's Front for Freedom activist Sam Mugumya. Mugumya has been missing for one year and eight months, sparking concerns about his safety and well-being. The judge has given security agencies three weeks to produce an investigation report explaining Mugumya's whereabouts.
According to court documents, Mugumya was allegedly abducted by armed men in Mbarara on August 26, 2025, and taken to an unknown location. His lawyers, Kato Tumusiime and Kakuru Tumusiime, claim he is being held at the Special Forces Command facility in Kasenyi Barracks, without access to his family or lawyers. However, Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Musasizi, representing some of the security respondents, has denied that Mugumya is in their custody, saying checks at the barracks found no evidence of his detention.
The case has been ongoing, with Mugumya's lawyers filing a second habeas corpus application on his behalf. State Attorney Mathew Muhwezi informed the court that the respondents had failed to submit the report but had since written to the police and the army requesting it. However, Justice Kinobe rejected attempts to shift responsibility to the police, insisting that his earlier order required both the police and the army to investigate the disappearance.
Justice Kinobe warned that he would not hesitate to summon and hold the IGP and other responsible officers in contempt if they failed to comply with his orders. The judge emphasized that he would personally hold individual officers accountable for disobeying court orders. The matter has been adjourned to November 30, with the judge saying he would personally attend the hearing despite being scheduled to go on leave.
The disappearance of Mugumya has raised concerns about the safety of activists and the role of security agencies in Uganda. His lawyers are seeking to establish his whereabouts and account for his reported deteriorating health. The court's intervention has brought attention to the case, and it remains to be seen how the security agencies will respond to the judge's orders.
The case has significant implications for the rule of law and human rights in Uganda. The judge's warning to the IGP and other security officials underscores the importance of accountability and transparency in the investigation of missing persons. The court's decision to adjourn the matter to November 30 will allow the security agencies to comply with the judge's orders and provide an update on Mugumya's disappearance.
As the case continues, concerns about Mugumya's safety and well-being persist. His family and lawyers have been seeking answers about his disappearance, and the court's intervention has brought some hope that the truth will be uncovered. The outcome of the case will be closely watched, both locally and internationally, as it has significant implications for human rights and the rule of law in Uganda.
Key points
- The court has given security agencies three weeks to investigate and provide a report on Mugumya's disappearance.
- The judge has threatened to hold the IGP and other security officials in contempt of court if they fail to comply with his orders.
- Mugumya's lawyers claim he is being held at the Special Forces Command facility in Kasenyi Barracks, but the security agencies have denied this.
