From Exile, 3 August 2026: Dear Hon. Jim Muhwezi, and Hon. Henry Tumukunde, You have both found yourselves in state custody in the past.
Both of you insisted on your innocence. Both of you are from Rukungiri. Both of you spent your youth risking your lives fighting for a principle.
Sam Mugumya is from Rukungiri too. He has been missing for 342 days now. He is a well-known campaigner for democracy and human rights.
What is the difference between him and you? Beyond the fact that both of you are honourable ministers and military officers, while he is neither, we cannot know.
Mugumya has not been taken before any court. The state has not admitted to having him in its custody. All we know is that on 26 August 2025, he was abducted by soldiers using a drone, and that he has since suffered mistreatment resulting in his current state of very poor health.
We know this from last year’s habeas corpus proceedings and from an excruciating video posted to Facebook last Friday by Kakwenza Rukirabashaija.
However, we have not been able to independently verify its source or authenticity. But what do you gentlemen know? You are senior lawyers.
We graduated from the Law Development Centre together. So you must be aware of the unlawfulness of the situation. You are distinguished, retired, high-ranking officers of the UPDF. So you must be aware of the violations of the military code.
You are prominent sons of Rukungiri. So you cannot be unaware of what is being said there about another son of the soil. You have both been held in state custody.
So you must be aware of the value of due process and the right to a fair hearing. You have to do something about this. Otherwise we will know that you have either betrayed your youth, or that you were wolves in sheep’s clothing all along.
Sam Mugumya must receive proper medical attention. He must either be charged or released. And he must be granted access to his mother. Talk to whom you must to make this happen. You know yourselves better than I ever will. Choose which legacy you will leave.
Isaac K. Ssemakadde, SC President, Uganda Law Society& Head of the Bar
