The High Court Civil Division in Kampala has ordered the government to submit a detailed report explaining the whereabouts of People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) member Sam Mugumya, whose alleged disappearance has remained unresolved for more than a year.
Justice Simon Peter Kinobe issued the directive on Monday, October 26, 2026, during the hearing of a habeas corpus application filed by Mugumya through his lawyers against the Chief of Defence Forces, the Attorney General and other security officials.
The application seeks to establish Mugumya’s whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding his alleged detention.
In support of the application, Eden Raymond Asiku swore an affidavit claiming that he had been detained at the same facility where Mugumya was allegedly being held. Asiku stated that by the time he was released, Mugumya remained in detention at a location he believed was under the control of security operatives.
Court records indicate that Mugumya was allegedly seized by armed operatives in Mbarara on August 26, 2025, bundled into a vehicle and taken to an undisclosed location, where he was reportedly held incommunicado.
However, Lt. Col. Edgar Musasizi, representing the Attorney General’s Chambers, disputed the allegations in an affidavit filed in response to the application.
Musasizi maintained that Mugumya had never been abducted or detained by officers of the Special Forces Command (SFC), nor had he been held at any gazetted facility under their command and control.
He further stated that Mugumya was not in the custody of any of the respondents, either at Kasenyi Barracks or at any other gazetted facility, and urged the court to dismiss the application.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice Kinobe directed the government to submit a detailed report on Mugumya’s whereabouts within two weeks.
The judge observed that the court could not rely on hearsay evidence to determine the matter, underscoring the need for credible information to establish the circumstances surrounding Mugumya’s alleged disappearance.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, Mugumya’s lawyer expressed concern over the government’s position that the respondents had no knowledge of his whereabouts.
Other individuals who attended the hearing, including members of the People’s Front for Freedom, also addressed the media, as questions continued to surround Mugumya’s alleged disappearance and the circumstances of his reported detention.
The government is expected to comply with the court’s directive within the two-week period, after which the matter may proceed based on the information presented to the court.
By Edith Namwanje
26th Oct 2026
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Catholic Church Clarifies Position on Labour Export, Warns Against Human Trafficking
The Executive Secretary of the Lay Apostolate Commission at the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Rev. Fr. Frederick Tusingwire, has clarified that the Catholic Church recognises the benefits of labour exportation to Ugandans but remains concerned about illegal recruitment practices that expose migrant workers to human trafficking and exploitation.
Fr. Tusingwire noted that the government-regulated externalisation of labour programme, which facilitates safe, orderly and legal employment opportunities for Ugandans abroad through registered recruitment companies, has contributed significantly to the country’s economic growth and improved livelihoods.
According to Bank of Uganda figures cited by Fr. Tusingwire, Ugandans working abroad remitted more than USD 2.5 billion in 2025, supporting individual households and contributing to national development.
However, he warned that illegal labour recruitment companies continue to pose a serious challenge by engaging in practices that expose Ugandans to trafficking in persons and other forms of exploitation.
The National Report on Countering Trafficking in Persons 2026, launched by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on July 30, 2026, indicates that reported human trafficking cases in Uganda declined by 6.85 per cent, from 1,068 cases in 2024 to 1,002 in 2025.
Fr. Tusingwire attributed the progress in combating human trafficking to concerted efforts by various stakeholders, including the Catholic Church, which has taken a leading role in raising awareness and mobilising communities through prayer and advocacy.
As part of these efforts, the Church will hold its 2026 National Prayer Day for Trafficking in Persons on Friday, October 30, at the Nsambya Youth Sharing Centre in Kampala.
The event, scheduled to run from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., will feature prayers, testimonies from survivors of human trafficking and discussions involving stakeholders committed to combating the vice.
The Archbishop of Kampala, His Grace Paul Ssemogerere, is expected to attend as the special guest in his capacity as Chairperson of the Commission for the Lay Apostolate at the Uganda Episcopal Conference, while the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Rtd. Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde, will be the chief guest.
Ahead of the national prayer event, the Catholic Church will also hold a special Eucharistic celebration for victims and survivors of human trafficking on Thursday, October 29, at 5:00 p.m. at St. Peter’s Parish, Nsambya.
The Church’s initiatives aim to strengthen public awareness, support victims and survivors, and encourage collective action against human trafficking while promoting safe and lawful labour migration for Ugandans seeking employment opportunities abroad.
By Francis Jjunju
26th Oct 2026
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