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Nearly a month has passed since the disappearance of opposition activist Sam Mugumya, yet Uganda’s key state institutions appear determined to drag their feet instead of seeking truth. What began as a straightforward demand for accountability has now spiraled into a textbook case of bureaucratic evasion and political indifference.
On Friday, both the Uganda Police Force (@PoliceUg) and the Attorney General’s office (AG) told court that it was “impossible” to have conducted investigations within two days of the order they were served. Instead, they successfully sought an extension until September 26, 2025.
But critics say the excuse does not hold water. “For a whole month, relevant institutions haven’t lifted a finger to help Sam Mugumya, despite the matter being filed in court barely 48 hours after his disappearance,” said a Kampala-based human rights lawyer.
A Familiar Pattern
Mugumya is not a new name in Uganda’s opposition politics. A close ally of Dr. Kizza Besigye, he has previously faced harassment, multiple arrests, and even forced exile. His political activism has made him a perennial target for the state. In 2014, he was abducted and illegally handed over to Congolese authorities where he spent years in prison without trial. Rights groups documented the ordeal as evidence of Uganda’s deepening reliance on enforced disappearances to muzzle dissent.
Today, history appears to be repeating itself. Civil society organizations warn that the state’s evasiveness is not simply a matter of institutional weakness — it is an active strategy. “The delay tactics are deliberate. They are buying time, hoping the issue will die quietly in the news cycle while the family suffers in silence,” said a governance expert at Makerere University.
Rule of Law on Trial
The case has become a test of Uganda’s justice system. The courts acted swiftly when the matter was first filed, issuing an order to compel investigations. Yet with the police and Attorney General now playing the delay card, the spotlight shifts to the judiciary: will it enforce compliance, or become another cog in the machinery of silence?
With elections looming in 2026, the stakes are even higher. Every unresolved disappearance chips away at the credibility of institutions that are meant to protect citizens regardless of political affiliation. For opposition supporters, Mugumya’s case is not just about one man — it is about whether the state can disappear you, and then disappear your case.
Families Left in Agony
Meanwhile, Mugumya’s relatives and colleagues remain in anguish. Each day without answers deepens their despair. Civil society groups have urged international bodies to step in, warning that continued silence by Ugandan authorities only normalizes impunity.
For now, all eyes are on September 26, the new deadline. But many fear the date will come and go, swallowed by yet another excuse. Until institutions choose truth over tactics, Mugumya’s disappearance will remain not just a personal tragedy, but a national indictment.
