By Alex Don
Kampala, Uganda – Veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda has made startling claims that some of the individuals opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, alleges were abducted by security forces were in fact taken to Kenya for military training.
Speaking during a media interview on Thursday, Mwenda said the information was based on reports from intelligence sources, to which he claims to have longstanding access.
Many of these people Kyagulanyi says were abducted were taken to Kenya to train in military combat, Mwenda stated. I am telling you what I get from the intelligence agencies.
The allegations add a new twist to ongoing debates over enforced disappearances, which have been a major point of contention between the Ugandan government and the opposition since the 2021 general elections.
Mwenda, the founder of The Independent magazine and a prominent political commentator, defended his remarks by citing his extensive career in journalism.
I have been a journalist for over 30 years and I have always had access to intelligence,” he said. “I speak from an informed position.
The opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) has repeatedly accused security agencies of abducting its supporters, detaining them incommunicado, and torturing them—allegations that government officials have consistently denied or downplayed.
Reacting to Mwenda’s comments, NUP officials said the journalist was “spinning state propaganda” and demanded evidence to back his claims.
Human rights groups have also expressed concern about the safety and whereabouts of the missing persons, urging the government to conduct transparent investigations and adhere to the rule of law.
As of now, no official statement has been issued by the Ugandan government or security agencies to either confirm or deny Mwenda’s assertions.
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