Kampala, Uganda — A day after reports emerged about the alleged disappearance of the body of former NRA pilot and UPDF ground instructor Maj. Henry Babumba, new details have surfaced, deepening the mystery and intensifying public concern.
Maj. Babumba, a respected senior pilot in the Uganda People’s Defence Air Force, passed away on 23rd December 2025 at Nakasero Hospital. Following his death, his remains were placed under the custody of the UPDF pending burial arrangements, as his family finalized plans to lay him to rest at his home, which was still under construction.
However, what began as a solemn period of mourning has now turned into a troubling national issue. Reports that the body is missing from the UPDF mortuary in Bombo have left the family, leaders, and the public demanding answers.
Before the controversy escalated, several high-profile figures had visited the grieving family at their residence in Ndejje–Lubugumu along Entebbe Road, where they have been receiving mourners.
Among those who visited the family is Edward Katumba Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport and a decorated military officer, who expressed condolences to the widow, Mrs. Kyarisiima Margaret, and the entire family. He praised the late Babumba for his service and sacrifice to the nation and emphasized the importance of ensuring the education and welfare of his children.
Katumba Wamala’s visit follows a series of condolence visits by government officials, religious leaders, and cultural figures since the family began receiving mourners earlier this year. These include Monica Musenero, Wilson Bugembe, Ivan Koreta, His Highness Isabaruri, and Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, among others. Their visits underscored the high regard in which the late major was held across different sectors of society.
Despite these gestures of solidarity, the family’s pain has been compounded by the shocking revelation that the body they entrusted to the military is no longer accounted for. Questions are now mounting: how could a body disappear from a guarded military mortuary?
Sources indicate that the family had earlier engaged with authorities, including a meeting with the President at State House Entebbe, where a directive was issued to ensure the late major receives a dignified burial with full military honors.
That directive now appears to hang in uncertainty.
The situation has also drawn in prominent political figures. Norbert Mao, a long-time friend of the deceased; however, despite the sensitivity of the issue, concerns are emerging that leaders currently gathered in Kyankwanzi have not openly raised it, further fueling public frustration.
For now, Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi’s UPDF Amendment Bill is under test, with its aim of strengthening the army’s legal framework. Analysts suggest the Babumba case is where such reforms would be critically tested.
Across communities, including Ntungamo and within alumni circles such as Ntare School Old Boys, debate continues to intensify. Religious leaders, cultural institutions, and sections of the military are reportedly divided over how the matter has been handled.
Lawyers representing the family have already issued a legal notice accusing the UPDF of acting in an “irregular, unlawful, and deeply disrespectful” manner. They are demanding a full explanation, restoration of dignity, and compensation, giving authorities 14 days to respond or face legal action.
As pressure mounts, one question continues to dominate public discourse: where is the body of Maj. Henry Babumba?
What was meant to be a dignified farewell for a fallen soldier has now turned into a national controversy, raising serious concerns about respect for veterans, institutional accountability, and the handling of sensitive matters within state custody.
As the writer of this article, my question is: all the matters being raised at the retreat in Kyankwanzi, why can’t the Speaker of Parliament raise this case? Why can’t Norbert Mao, a friend of the late, also raise the matter, instead of focusing on the ongoing fights for the position of Speakership?
