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For over twelve years, the mother of Ugandan political activist Sam Mugumya has lived with uncertainty, fear, and hope—hope that one day she would embrace her son again.
In a deeply emotional statement shared this week, Mugumya’s mother recounted the long years of separation, the silence of exile, and the pain of watching her son’s life unfold from a distance.
“I have not seen my son for 12 years,” she said softly. “When he was imprisoned in Congo, I always wondered if I would ever see him again. When he was released and went to Zambia, at least I had an opportunity to say hello to him on the phone.”
Mugumya, a former aide to opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, was arrested in 2014 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under accusations of rebel activity. He spent eight years in detention before being released in 2022. After his release, he reportedly sought refuge in Zambia, unable to return to Uganda due to fears of political persecution.
However, recent reports indicate that Sam Mugumya has once again been imprisoned, reigniting fears about his safety and the continuing crackdown on political dissent in the region. The details of his re-arrest remain unclear, but his family says they have once again lost direct contact with him.
For his mother, the news has reopened old wounds. The years have already been marked by an unending emotional struggle—a mixture of relief, sadness, and longing. She described the brief phone conversations they once shared as bittersweet reminders that her son was alive but still far from home.
“A mother’s heart never rests,” she said. “You thank God he is alive, but you cry because you cannot touch him or see his face.”
Human rights organizations have long cited Mugumya’s case as emblematic of Uganda’s political intolerance and the harsh treatment of dissenters. His continued persecution, they say, underscores the wider challenge faced by political activists across East Africa who are forced to flee—or are silenced—for their beliefs.
Advocates are now calling for dialogue and reconciliation that would allow exiled and detained Ugandans like Mugumya to return home safely and without fear of retribution.
“No family should be torn apart because of politics,” said a Kampala-based rights defender. “The government must guarantee safe return and fair treatment for all political prisoners and exiles. Every Ugandan deserves the right to belong to their country.”
As her son reportedly remains behind bars once again, Mugumya’s mother continues to hold on to the only thing she can—hope.
“All I want before I die,” she said, her voice breaking, “is to hug my son again.”
