Kikuube District Demands Action from President on Missing NRM Official

(Kikuube) – Kikuube district council has resolved to petition President Yoweri Museveni over the disappearance of Micheal Christopher Ayeranga, the senior NRM mobilizer for the Bunyoro sub-region, who has been missing since October 3.

The Kikuube district council has passed a resolution to petition President Yoweri Museveni regarding the disappearance of Micheal Christopher Ayeranga, a senior National Resistance Movement (NRM) mobilizer for the Bunyoro sub-region. Ayeranga, who hails from Kyakirube village in Bugambe sub-county, Kikuube district, was reportedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Kampala on October 3. Since then, his family, friends, and leaders in the Bunyoro region have not been able to contact him, and all his phones have been turned off.

The issue was brought to the Kikuube district council’s attention on November 13, 2024, when a motion was presented by Nicholas Kiiza, the district’s male councillor for workers. In the motion, Kiiza described Ayeranga as a key figure in the region’s development and a tireless supporter of government programs. He highlighted Ayeranga’s role in mobilizing the youth, supporting local churches, and advocating for the elderly and vulnerable groups. Kiiza also emphasized that since Ayeranga’s disappearance, there has been no trace of him, and local leaders are growing increasingly concerned.

The motion called on the president to provide a statement regarding the disappearance and to meet with the council to discuss possible reasons behind the incident. It also requested the intervention of security agencies to locate Ayeranga and ensure his safe return. The motion was met with unanimous support from the council, leading to a resolution for the district speaker, Chris Nkalu, to write a formal petition to President Museveni on behalf of the council.

During the meeting, other councillors, including Alex Byesi, the representative for Kabwoya Upper Sub-county, expressed concern over the possibility that Ayeranga might be detained illegally. Byesi reminded the council that the constitution requires anyone detained to be presented in court within 48 hours. He suggested that the district chairperson submit the petition directly to the president, especially since President Museveni was scheduled to visit Bunyoro on November 15.

Deo Karubanga, the councillor for Buhimba Sub-county, and Nestroy Tumwesigye from Kyangwali Sub-county, also voiced their concerns about the growing anxiety in Bunyoro and Kikuube districts over Ayeranga’s disappearance. They called on the president to address the situation urgently.

In response to the council’s concerns, Kikuube district police commander John Bosco Tumwebaze advised the council to follow the proper legal procedures, including filing a habeas corpus claim to locate a missing person. The police spokesperson for Albertine region, Julius Hakiza, clarified that the family had not reported any case to the police, and thus no official investigation had been launched.

Rusoke Kituuma, the police spokesperson, further stated that Ayeranga was not in police custody. He assured that if the family had filed a report, the police would investigate the matter and make every effort to locate him.

The situation remains unresolved, and as the council awaits action from the president and security agencies, the disappearance of Ayeranga continues to raise concerns across Kikuube and the larger Bunyoro region.

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