In a parliamentary address, Leader of the Opposition Matthias Mpuuga has urged the Ugandan Parliament to address the longstanding issue of missing persons and systematic human rights violations within the country. Mpuuga called for transparency in accounting for individuals who went missing during the recent general elections and demanded justice for the lives lost during the November 2020 riots, where 54 individuals were believed to have been killed by the police and security forces.
These incidents raised concerns over the use of force and accountability, as at the time, authorities claimed that only 11 of those killed were rioters, while 42 lost their lives due to “stray bullets.” President Museveni instructed the police to investigate the circumstances surrounding these “stray bullets” at the end of November 2020.
The issue of missing persons has been on the parliamentary agenda since the beginning of 2022. On February 3, 2022, Opposition Members of Parliament, led by Mpuuga, staged a walkout in protest against what they saw as the continuous violation of Ugandans’ rights by security forces.
Mpuuga revisited these concerns during a recent parliamentary session, where he highlighted the escalating human rights violations in the country and criticized the shrinking space for civic engagement. He asserted that Uganda’s track record in respecting, protecting, and promoting human rights was among the poorest worldwide.
Mpuuga’s remarks were prompted by a statement made on October 17 by State Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, who defended the preventive arrest of the National Unity Platform Party President, Robert Kyagulanyi. Kyagulanyi was detained upon his return to Uganda on October 5, following a “political mobilization tour” from Canada and South America.
Gen. Muhoozi justified the arrest, citing concerns of potential lawlessness and civil disobedience due to the arrival of Kyagulanyi’s supporters. Mpuuga, however, criticized the minister’s statement, deeming it superficial, full of inaccuracies, misinterpretations of the law, and an attempt to justify political repression.
Mpuuga further emphasized the government’s reluctance to address human rights violations, especially the November 2020 shootings that resulted in casualties. While an investigation was promised, Mpuuga contended that little progress had been made, with victims being categorized into groups of those killed by stray bullets and those allegedly involved in riots.
He cited specific cases, such as the deaths of Frank Ssenteza and Rita Nabukenya, who were allegedly killed by security vehicles. Mpuuga questioned whether the Parliament was taking a stand on these matters or remaining passive.
Mpuuga also highlighted the plight of 18 missing Ugandans, accusing the government of failing to account for their whereabouts after they were reportedly taken from their homes and workplaces by state security agencies. A recent report by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) indicated that 12 of these individuals were located and released, but 18 remained unaccounted for.
To address these issues, Bugabula North County Member of Parliament, John Teira, proposed the establishment of an independent parliamentary committee to handle cases of missing persons. The Opposition also raised concerns about the alleged victimization and targeted killings of Muslims and incidents of detention without trial.
Mpuuga urged the government to release political prisoners and ensure their trials proceed. Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa instructed the Minister for Internal Affairs to respond to Mpuuga’s statement within 30 days.
