The Uganda Police Force has formally denied arresting, abducting or detaining National Unity Platform (NUP) deputy president for Buganda, Muwanga Kivumbi Muhammad, asking the High Court to dismiss the habeas corpus application filed against the Inspector General of Police.
The position is contained in a replying affidavit sworn by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Godwin Tumugumye on behalf of the Inspector General of Police in Miscellaneous Cause No. HCT-00-CV-MC-0187 of 2026, in which Kivumbi is seeking a writ of habeas corpus against the Chief of Defence Forces, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General.
In the affidavit, ACP Tumugumye states that he reviewed the application with lawyers from the Attorney General’s Chambers and denies liability for the allegations made by the applicant.
“I make no admission to any of the allegations contained in the said affidavit and the Applicant shall be put to strict proof thereof,” the police officer states.
The affidavit acknowledges that Kivumbi had earlier been granted bail by the High Court but argues that his release on bail does not prove that the Uganda Police Force later arrested or detained him.
“I know that the Applicant was granted bail by the High Court. However, the grant of bail does not establish that the Uganda Police Force subsequently arrested or detained the Applicant,” Tumugumye states.
Police further maintain that Kivumbi was never arrested by officers operating under the command or supervision of the Inspector General of Police.
“I know that the Applicant was not arrested by officers under the command or supervision of the Inspector General of Police, nor is there any record indicating any operation involving the arrest or detention of the Applicant by the Uganda Police Force,” the affidavit reads.
Addressing claims that Kivumbi’s vehicle was intercepted at a police checkpoint before his disappearance, the police acknowledge that the vehicle was stopped but deny that officers arrested or detained him.
“Whereas it is true that the Applicant’s motor vehicle was stopped at a Police checkpoint, he was not arrested, abducted or detained by the Uganda Police Force. The deponent has not identified the alleged police officers or produced any evidence linking the Uganda Police Force to the alleged acts,” the affidavit states.
The Inspector General of Police also argues that police records do not show that Kivumbi has ever been held in police custody.
“I know that there is no record under the control of the Uganda Police Force confirming that the Applicant is or has ever been detained by the Uganda Police Force,” the affidavit says.
The police dismiss social media reports cited by the applicant, arguing that they cannot be relied upon as evidence that Kivumbi is in police custody.
“I know that the allegations relating to statements allegedly made on social media do not constitute evidence that the Applicant is in the custody or control of the Inspector General of Police and are irrelevant to the determination of this application,” Tumugumye states.
The affidavit adds that inquiries were conducted across relevant police units and stations but yielded no record indicating that Kivumbi is being held by the force.
“I know that inquiries have been made through the relevant police units and stations, and to date there is no record indicating that the Applicant is in the custody of the Uganda Police Force,” the affidavit reads.
Police further argue that the legal threshold for granting a writ of habeas corpus has not been met because there is no credible evidence that the Inspector General of Police is unlawfully detaining Kivumbi.
“I have been advised by lawyers from the Attorney General’s Chambers… that a writ of habeas corpus is a remedy available only where there is credible evidence that a person is being unlawfully detained by the Respondent. In the absence of such evidence, the application against the Inspector General of Police cannot stand,” the affidavit states.
The Inspector General of Police has therefore asked the High Court to dismiss the application against him with costs.
The habeas corpus application comes amid continued uncertainty over Kivumbi’s whereabouts after reports that he was re-arrested shortly after being released on bail. His family, lawyers and the National Unity Platform have maintained that he was taken by security operatives and have petitioned court to compel the respondents to produce him.
Meanwhile, Bobi Wine has claimed that Muwanga Kivumbi was tortured to near Death at SFC barracks. (See Details Here).
