Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi has renewed pressure on the Government to account for Ugandans reportedly detained or missing without being produced in court, insisting that constitutional rights must apply regardless of political affiliation.
Speaking on the cases of opposition supporters and an NRM activist, Ssenyonyi said the Government must either charge suspects in court or release them, arguing that prolonged detention without due process undermines the rule of law.
Among those he highlighted was Matthew Bagonza, a senior NRM activist and head of the PACEID secretariat, whose detention has attracted public attention.
“Matthew Bagonza belongs to the NRM, but as a leader, it’s also my responsibility to say, even though he’s NRM, he should be accorded due process,” he said.
He questioned why Bagonza had not been brought before court.
“Where is he? Why is he not produced in court?” he asked.
Ssenyonyi said political affiliation should not determine whether an individual enjoys constitutional protections.
“It is okay for the state to suspect anyone in this country, at whichever level, to have committed an offence,” he said.
“But suspect them if you must, take them to court.”
He referred to Article 28(3) of Uganda’s Constitution, which provides for the presumption of innocence, and argued that suspects should be held in gazetted detention facilities and, within the legally prescribed period, either released on police bond or brought before court.
“Why don’t we do these things?” he asked.
‘Where is the man?’
Ssenyonyi also demanded answers over the reported disappearance of Christopher Godi, popularly known as King Zale, and Sam Mugumya.
He said Mr Godi was reportedly taken on 21 April 2026 and questioned why he had not been produced before court.
“Christopher Godi, also known as King Zale. This man was abducted on 21st April. Up to now, where is he? Why is he not produced in court?” he said.
On Mugumya, whom he said disappeared in August 2025, Ssenyonyi referred to recent footage purportedly showing him in poor condition.
“Sam Mugumya was taken in August of last year. We saw videos recently of him in bad shape. Where is the man? If he’s committed an offence, why not produce him in court?” he asked.
The Leader of the Opposition said the cases had repeatedly been raised in Parliament and referred to relevant ministries, but that satisfactory answers had yet to be provided.
‘Our country is hurting’
Ssenyonyi welcomed Speaker Jacob Markson Oboth’s reported commitment to create time for Parliament to debate human rights concerns, saying the discussion should address alleged election violence, prolonged detention, disappearances and the role of the military in democratic processes.
“Our country is hurting and we cannot pretend that all is well,” he said.
He cited the long-running case of John Bosco Kibalama, who has been reported missing since June 2019.
Ssenyonyi called for Parliament to examine the role of the security forces in electoral and political affairs.
“We also need to have a conversation about where does the military start and where does the military end when it comes to our democratic processes,” he said.
