NUP Councilor Denis Ssenono Abducted, Now in Police Custody

In a distressing development emblematic of the worsening political repression in Uganda, Denis Ssenono, a National Unity Platform (NUP) supporter and LC III Councilor, has been abducted and is now reportedly in the custody of a security agency. This revelation, made by Patrick Onyango, the Spokesperson for the Kampala Metropolitan Police, comes on the heels of Ssenono’s mysterious disappearance after leaving the NUP Party headquarters at Kavule last evening.

Ssenono’s abduction is yet another incident in a series of kidnappings and detentions targeting opposition supporters, raising concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in Uganda. Although Onyango confirmed that Ssenono is in the hands of security forces, the specific agency responsible remains undisclosed, fueling fears of extrajudicial detainment. This practice, which circumvents legal arrest procedures, has become alarmingly common since the 2021 presidential election that saw NUP emerge as the principal opposition force.

The Pattern of Abductions and Violations

Ssenono’s case follows a broader pattern where opposition supporters, particularly those affiliated with NUP, are abducted in broad daylight, often by unidentified individuals in plain clothes. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have documented numerous cases where victims are held incommunicado for extended periods, subjected to torture, or coerced into false confessions. According to a 2023 report by the Uganda Human Rights Commission, over 500 people, mostly opposition members, have been reported missing since 2021.

Witnesses who saw Ssenono last reported that he was ambushed by armed men in unmarked vehicles as he was returning from the party offices. His family, who raised the alarm after he failed to return home, initially feared the worst—a sentiment common among families of abductees, as many such victims are subjected to brutal treatment by state forces.

The NUP and Ugandan Opposition under Siege

The National Unity Platform, led by Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), has been a vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni’s regime, calling for an end to state-sponsored violence, electoral fraud, and political intimidation. NUP members, like Denis Ssenono, have been at the forefront of community organizing, rallying support against what they describe as a repressive and corrupt government.

Since the 2021 elections, NUP members have been disproportionately targeted in a campaign of terror designed to silence opposition. Kyagulanyi himself has faced multiple arrests, house arrests, and attacks. In a statement released after Ssenono’s abduction, the NUP condemned the continued persecution of its members, calling on international human rights organizations to hold the Ugandan government accountable.

Police Statement Lacks Clarity

While Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, confirmed that Ssenono is in custody, the lack of clarity on which security agency is responsible and the absence of formal charges have drawn sharp criticism from both the public and human rights activists. Onyango’s admission that the councilor is being held by one of the security agencies without specifying the legal basis for his detention underscores the growing culture of impunity within Uganda’s security apparatus.

Lawyers for Ssenono’s family have demanded immediate access to him, citing fears that he may be subjected to torture, as has been the case for many abducted opposition members. Under Ugandan law, suspects must be charged within 48 hours of arrest, but security agencies have repeatedly ignored this requirement in political cases, holding detainees in secret locations for weeks or months without trial.

Calls for Accountability

The abduction and illegal detention of opposition figures like Denis Ssenono represent a blatant violation of Uganda’s constitution, which guarantees the right to liberty, security, and due process. International human rights groups have repeatedly condemned Uganda’s disregard for civil liberties, urging President Museveni’s government to end its crackdown on political dissent.

In light of Ssenono’s abduction, opposition leaders and civil society organizations are calling for urgent intervention from regional bodies like the African Union (AU) and the East African Community (EAC), as well as the United Nations (UN), to pressure the Ugandan government into respecting the rule of law.

As the situation unfolds, the fate of Denis Ssenono remains uncertain, but his abduction sends a chilling message to all Ugandans who dare to stand up against the authoritarian regime. The international community’s response—or lack thereof—will undoubtedly shape the future of human rights in Uganda.