Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, the Head of Mobilization for the National Unity Platform (NUP), has reportedly been abducted by heavily armed men. The incident occurred on February 17, 2025, at Kubbiri Roundabout in Kampala.
Nyanzi was forcibly taken at gunpoint and whisked away in a drone to an unknown location. This abduction has stirred significant concern among NUP supporters and observers of Ugandan politics, who see it as part of a broader pattern of intimidation against political adversaries.
Robert Kyagulanyi, the leader of NUP and brother to the abducted, confirmed the abduction on X, stating, “Our comrade and Head of Mobilisation for NUP, comrade Nyanzi Fred Ssentamu has been abducted by heavily armed men and taken away in a drone to an unknown destination! He has been abducted on gunpoint from Kubbiri Roundabout. The criminal regime is on rampage, BUT WE ARE NOT.”
The abduction of Nyanzi does not occur in isolation. It follows a series of similar events where NUP members and supporters have faced arrests, abductions, and alleged torture, especially in the lead-up to and aftermath of elections. The strategy appears to be aimed at stifling dissent and preventing opposition leaders from mobilizing support.
While there has not been an immediate international response to this specific incident, previous similar actions have drawn condemnation from human rights organizations and Western governments, calling for respect for human rights and democratic principles in Uganda.
We await the report from the security agencies.
