Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party says it will hold Uganda Police Force (UPF) and UPDF responsible for whatever happens to their ‘kidnapped’ Kawempe mobilizer Nalongo Lukia Namwanga.
Nalongo Namwanga is party’s Deputy Secretary for Local Government and the Bwaise One Parish Woman Councillor in the Kawempe Division Urban Council in Kampala City.
She went missing in the wee hours of September 07, according to party president Patrick Oboi Amuriat.
Amuriat says plain-clothed security personnel picked Namwanga from her home in Kazo, Bwaise, Kawempe Division.
She had expressed interest in the Kawempe South A as Lady Councilor to KCCA position and had reportedly intensified her mobilization efforts.
“She has lately been mobilizing for the FDC Party in Kawempe. We suspect that she was abducted because of her opposition political views and activities,” said Amuriat.
Party leaders such as Kawempe South MP Mubarak Munyagwa’s attempts to reach to Namwanga were futile.
They later found out that Namwanga’s phones had been switched off and left in her house.
Amuriat predicted that politically-motivated kidnappings could increase ahead of the 2021 elections.
“The abduction of Councilor Namwanga is a clear depiction of what we should expect in the coming election and we strongly condemn this.”
He has now warned police and the military FDC will hold them “totally responsible for the disappearance of Nalongo Namwanga Lukia because they have the duty of protecting citizens of Uganda and their properties as the law mandates them and there should never have been the perpetuators such unlawful actions.”
He said the party, whose flag he seeks to carry in the 2021 presidential election, “will not just watch as our members and leaders are intimidated abducted, tortured, mishandled, maimed or even killed.”
“We therefore demand security organs such as the Uganda Police and UPDF to release Councilor Namwanga unconditionally. If there is any case to answer, she should be arraigned before a competent court for her to get justice.”