Kampala, Uganda
Ugandan opposition figure Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has alleged that two prominent civil society leaders, Dr. Sarah Bireete and lawyer Eunice Musiime, were abducted by military personnel and taken to an undisclosed location.
The claim, made through Bobi Wine’s official social media account, has sparked concern among opposition supporters and human rights advocates, though authorities have not yet issued an official statement confirming or denying the alleged incident.
The individuals named in the allegation are Dr. Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), and Eunice Musiime, Executive Director of the women’s rights organisation Akina Mama wa Afrika.
Both women are well-known Ugandan civil society figures who have worked extensively on governance, human rights, and democratic accountability in the country.
According to Bobi Wine’s post, the two activists were “abducted by the military and driven off to an unknown destination.”
No further details were provided regarding the timing, location, or circumstances of the alleged arrests.
As of publication, independent verification of the alleged abduction has not been established through official government or military statements.
The allegation was made within the last 24 hours, but no confirmed timeline of the reported incident has been provided by either civil society organisations or state authorities.
The location of the alleged abduction has not been disclosed. Kampala and surrounding areas have previously been central to recent detentions and arrests of activists, particularly during the heightened political activity surrounding Uganda’s 2026 election period.
The claim comes amid ongoing concerns from human rights organisations about shrinking civic space and the treatment of government critics in Uganda.
Dr. Bireete has previously been arrested and detained in connection with allegations relating to the handling of electoral data during the 2025–2026 election period, before later being released on bail.
Human rights groups, including international observers, have previously raised concerns about the broader pattern of arrests of activists and opposition-linked civil society actors in the country.
Eunice Musiime has also been a vocal advocate for democratic governance and women’s rights, frequently commenting on political and constitutional issues in Uganda.
As of now, Ugandan military and police authorities have not issued a public response addressing the specific allegation of abduction.
In past similar cases involving opposition figures and activists, security agencies have often denied involvement in enforced disappearances, stating that arrests are carried out under lawful procedures.
However, rights organisations have repeatedly called for transparency in detention processes and access to detainees.
Uganda has experienced increasing scrutiny from rights groups over alleged enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on political activity, particularly during election periods. Several activists and opposition figures have previously reported being detained by security agencies or held incommunicado.
The current allegation adds to ongoing debates about accountability, rule of law, and civic freedoms in the country.
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