Buyaga West Member of Parliament Barnabas Tinkasimire has made serious allegations against the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, accusing him of masterminding his recent abduction and torture.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Tinkasimire claimed he was kidnapped by armed, unidentified men on Saturday evening while at Makerere University.
He said the men, dressed in civilian clothing but heavily armed, forced him into a vehicle and drove him to an undisclosed location where he was held for several hours.
During his captivity, the legislator says he was interrogated and physically abused by individuals who accused him of being disloyal to Gen. Muhoozi and critical of the military.
“They kept asking me why I have refused to support Gen. Muhoozi’s political ambitions and why I continue to speak against him,” Tinkasimire said, visibly shaken.
“This was not just intimidation, it was torture meant to silence me.”
He further claimed that at some point, a hooded man entered the room where he was being held and told him a meeting with Gen. Muhoozi could be arranged, allegedly as a way to “resolve their differences.”
Tinkasimire described the experience as traumatic and a clear abuse of power. “This is a violation of my constitutional rights as a citizen and an elected representative. I will not be intimidated. I am consulting my lawyers and will be filing a civil suit against Gen. Muhoozi for human rights violations,” he said.
The MP, who has previously been outspoken about the growing militarization of politics in Uganda, said the incident reflects a dangerous trend where dissent is met with force and intimidation. “We are now witnessing the use of military machinery to suppress political opinions and personal freedoms. This must stop,” he added.
Tinkasimire called on Parliament, human rights organizations, and civil society to take interest in his case and to speak out against what he termed as “a creeping dictatorship.”
As of now, neither Gen. Muhoozi nor the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have issued a statement responding to the allegations.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission and other civil liberties groups are being urged to investigate the matter, as pressure mounts on authorities to address concerns of political repression and unlawful detention.
By Francis Lubega
1st July 2025
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