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Uganda’s ongoing human rights crisis deepened today with reports of the violent abduction of Bobi Giant, an opposition supporter, from Kawempe. Witnesses say several armed men, traveling in a drone van, intercepted him in broad daylight, forced him into the vehicle, and sped off toward an unknown destination.
The brazen abduction has provoked anger from the public, with rights defenders describing it as a blatant violation of the rule of law.
A Growing Pattern of Enforced Disappearances
The use of “drones”—unmarked vans associated with covert security operations—has become a chilling hallmark of Uganda’s political repression. Dozens of opposition activists and ordinary citizens have previously been abducted in a similar fashion, often held incommunicado, tortured, and released without charge. Others remain unaccounted for.
Human rights organizations note that these practices amount to enforced disappearances, a crime under international law. The lack of transparency around such arrests and the failure of authorities to present detainees before courts of law further undermine trust in Uganda’s justice system.
Calls for Accountability
Civil society groups and opposition leaders are demanding immediate answers on Bobi Giant’s whereabouts and condition. “The government must come clean on this abduction. If he is accused of a crime, he should be presented before a competent court. Anything less is lawlessness,” one activist told reporters.
Relatives of Bobi Giant expressed deep concern for his safety, fearing he may face ill-treatment similar to what other abducted activists have endured in secret detention facilities.
Rule of Law Under Threat
Observers warn that the continuation of abductions and arbitrary arrests erodes democratic principles, stifles dissent, and fuels a climate of fear. Uganda’s constitution guarantees the right to liberty, due process, and protection from arbitrary detention. Yet, critics argue, the actions of security agencies routinely violate these provisions.
“The normalization of drone abductions is destroying the very foundation of justice,” said a human rights lawyer. “Without accountability, the state is sanctioning impunity.”
International Community Urged to Act
Ugandan human rights defenders are also appealing to the international community to increase pressure on the government to end enforced disappearances and protect the rights of citizens. They argue that silence or inaction will only embolden further abuses.
As the whereabouts of Bobi Giant remain unknown, his abduction underscores the urgent need for reforms, accountability, and protection of fundamental freedoms. For many Ugandans, his case is not just about one individual, but part of a wider struggle against systemic injustice and political repression.
