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Ex-LoP Mpuuga Revives Debate On 18 Missing NUP Supporters
The Former Leader of the Opposition (LOP) in Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga, has revived the debate on the disappearance of 18 supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) who were allegedly abducted by security agencies.
Mpuuga’s move comes after Mpuuga’s successor, Joel Ssenyonyi, seemed to have dropped the ball on the matter, mysteriously.
During a plenary session presided over by Speaker Anita Among on 26th November 2024, Mpuuga reminded Parliament that on December 5, 2023, “the house debated and considered matters related to the disappearance of persons.”
From that debate, the Parliamentary Commissioner Mpuuga said, the house took four key resolutions; “to investigate human rights violations in fishing communities, to report on listed political prisoners, to investigate the 18 missing persons, and to re-investigate the matter of the missing persons.”
Expressing his dismay, Mpuuga noted that despite the government’s commitment to investigate the 18 missing persons, no report has been provided to date.
“It is November 26, 2024, and there is no report on the missing persons, but the persons are still missing,” Mpuuga said.
In response, Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua expressed ignorance on the house record regarding the matter, claiming that it had been concluded.
However, Mpuuga countered that he was quoting the Hansard verbatim and that Obua’s claim was surprising, given that the missing persons were still unaccounted for.
The missing persons include John Ddamulira, Joseph Baguma, Godfrey Kisembo, Moses Mbabazi, Peter Kirya, Shafiq Wangolo, John Bosco Kibalama, and Yuda Ssempijja.
Others are Hassan Mubiru, Vincent Nalumonso, Martin Lukwago, Isma Ssesaazi, Musisi Mbowa, George Kasumba Muhammad Kanatta, Denis Zimula, Michael Ssemudu, and Musitafa Luwemba.
During his tenure as LOP, Mpuuga conducted a parallel investigation, tracing the whereabouts of the 18 NUP supporters who were abducted by security personnel before, during, and after the 2021 general elections.
Mpuuga’s efforts were prompted by a report from the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), which revealed that 18 out of 30 reported missing persons were untraceable. The UHRC consequently closed their files.
The Speaker of Parliament directed Obua to crosscheck the record and provide a report on the missing persons. The matter remains a contentious issue, with the opposition demanding accountability from the government.
Mpuuga’s move to reopen the debate on the missing persons has been seen as a step towards seeking justice for the affected families. The government’s response to the matter will be closely watched in the coming days.
As the debate continues, the fate of the 18 missing persons remains a mystery. Their families and Mpuuga are demanding answers, and it remains to be seen whether the government will provide the necessary information.
The international community is also watching the situation closely, and any further developments will be closely monitored.
In the meantime, the families of the missing persons continue to suffer, not knowing the fate of their loved ones. The opposition led by Nyendo-Mukungwe’s Mpuuga is demanding that the government takes responsibility for the disappearances and provides answers, asserting that the matter will not be swept under the carpet.
Mpuuga vows to continue to push for accountability to force the government into satisfactory response to the matter.
Source:File Facts