The National Unity Platform party secretary general David Lewis Rubongoya spent his Sunday reaching out to families of some of the abductees in Mbale.

This category of people was picked up by security operatives during and after the 2021 general elections. Several of them remain detained and some even unaccounted for as no security agency has come out to assume responsibility for their disappearances.

“Yesterday in Mbale, we visited five families of our comrades who were abducted in 2021, kept in illegal detention for months, and eventually arraignment before the military court. Kato Umar was a businessman and trained teacher. Katabi Swaibu was a boda boda rider. Wandera Ibrahim, was a special hire driver. Stephen Musaakulu (aged 53) was living his life in the village, and so was Nagweere Asbert aged 45,” Rubongoya explains in line with the actuality of the ordeal of the abductees.

“On different dates in May 2021, these people were abducted from different places in Mbale City and Mbale District. They were all renowned supporters of the National Unity Platform. They were held incommunicado for several months. Their families told us they thought they had died, until one day when they read in the news that they were presented before the General Court Martial and charged with different offences. They are amongst the 32 who were jointly charged with the likes of Machete and Olivia Lutaaya. They have been in detention for close to two years already!

The pain, frustration and misery of these families is hard to explain. Kato Umar lost his child and mother while in detention. Many others have lost loved ones and their livelihoods have been shuttered.

What encouraged me is to find that their families fully understand that their people did not commit any offence. We encouraged them to remain strong and continue demanding for the freedom of their people. We briefed them about the different efforts we’ve been undertaking to secure their release, and shared some assistance with them. Very grateful to the comrades who have assisted us with school needs for some of their children.