Ninye Tabz Kidnapped from Kamwokya

KAMPALA — Prominent political activist, photojournalist and anti-corruption whistleblower Andrew Natumanya, widely known as Ninye Tabz, has been abducted in broad daylight from Kampala’s Kamwokya suburb on Wednesday, sparking renewed concern over the safety of opposition supporters and government critics.

According to accounts shared by opposition leaders, Natumanya was intercepted by armed men and forced into a Toyota Hiace van commonly referred to as a “drone” before being driven to an unknown destination.

Witness accounts and details surrounding the incident remained limited by Wednesday evening, while authorities had yet to issue an official statement regarding his whereabouts or the circumstances of his disappearance.

The reported abduction was first made public by National Unity Platform (NUP) Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, who said the activist had been seized shortly before his statement.

“We’ve just been informed of the abduction of Ninye Tabz from Kamwokya a short while ago. He has been whisked away in a drone. The lawlessness continues!” Rubongoya wrote on X.

The post quickly triggered concern among opposition supporters and human rights activists, many of whom demanded that security agencies disclose Natumanya’s whereabouts.

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi also confirmed receiving reports about the incident and condemned the latest disappearance.

“The senseless abductions continue, Tabz @NinyeTabz has been taken by a drone from Kamwokya!!” Ssenyonyi posted.

Natumanya has become a recognizable figure within Uganda’s political activism circles through his work as a photographer, online commentator and anti-corruption campaigner. His social media platforms frequently feature criticism of government actions and commentary on national political developments.

By late Wednesday, there was no public information indicating where he had been taken, whether he was being held by state agencies or whether any charges had been brought against him.

The incident comes at a time of heightened political tension and follows another high-profile security operation involving senior opposition lawyer and former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.

On June 15, Lukwago was reportedly seized from his home in Wakaliga by heavily armed operatives and transported in a vehicle similar to those commonly described by opposition figures as “drones.”

His disappearance sparked alarm among supporters and legal colleagues, who questioned why security agencies had not immediately disclosed his whereabouts.

On June 17, Lukwago surfaced in state custody and was subsequently arraigned before court. Prosecutors charged him with misprision of treason, alleging that he failed to disclose information regarding an alleged plot to overthrow the government.

The court remanded Lukwago to Murchison Bay Prison in Luzira, where he remains as legal proceedings continue.

The latest disappearance of Natumanya has now added to growing concerns among opposition leaders, who argue that the use of unmarked vans and plain-clothed operatives has become increasingly common in operations targeting critics of the government.

For years, opposition parties and human rights organizations have documented cases involving alleged enforced disappearances, unlawful detentions and arrests carried out by unidentified security personnel. Government officials have consistently maintained that security operations are conducted lawfully and within the framework of national security requirements.

Nevertheless, the reported seizure of Ninye Tabz has reignited debate about political freedoms, due process and accountability within Uganda’s security apparatus.

Opposition leaders say the incident demonstrates a troubling pattern in which critics are picked up without immediate explanation, leaving families, lawyers and political allies scrambling for information.

As calls for answers intensified on Wednesday, the whereabouts of Ninye Tabz remained unknown, with supporters urging authorities to either produce him before court or disclose where he is being held.

For now, the disappearance of one of the opposition’s most visible activists has become the latest chapter in Uganda’s ongoing debate over civil liberties, political dissent and the rule of law.

Days ago a wife of a kidnapped Bobi Wine supporter died after five years of searching for her missing husband, as reported Here.

You can read facts about the misprision of treason charge that Lukwago faces Here.