The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has denied holding National Unity Platform (NUP) deputy president for Northern Uganda, Dr Zedriga Lina Waru Abuku, following claims by her family that she was arrested by joint security forces and has since been detained incommunicado.
The denial is contained in an affidavit filed by the Attorney General in response to a habeas corpus application lodged before the High Court Civil Division, seeking the production of Dr Zedriga, who has reportedly been missing since January 15, 2026. The matter came up today for mention before the head of the Civil Division, Justice Joyce Kavuma.
The Attorney General informed court that the State does not have Dr Zedriga in custody and presented a formal response from the UPDF. However, police had not filed any response, prompting the court to adjourn the matter to Wednesday next week to allow investigations and a status report from the Uganda Police Force.
In the affidavit sworn by Lt Col Edgar Musasizi, the Director of Civil Affairs at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, the army distances itself from the alleged arrest and detention of the opposition politician.
“I have personally cross-checked with all gazetted detention facilities under the control of the 2nd and 4th respondents and confirm that the applicant is not and has never been in the custody of any of the respondents at any material time,” Lt Col Musasizi states.
He further denies that operatives under the command or supervision of the UPDF or the Directorate of Defence Intelligence and Security (formerly CMI) arrested Dr Zedriga, adding that there is no record of any such operation.
“The applicant was not arrested by operatives under the command or supervision of the military… nor is there any record indicating any operation involving the arrest of the applicant,” he states.
Responding to claims that military vehicles were used during the arrest, Lt Col Musasizi states that UPDF vehicles bear identifiable number plates, making it difficult to verify whether the vehicles described by the applicant’s family belonged to the military. He also disputes allegations that security officers contacted the family after the arrest.
“The alleged call… was not made by the 2nd and 4th respondents and there is no proof connecting them to the alleged call,” he states.
The army maintains that the habeas corpus application is unsupported by evidence and is misconceived, arguing that the remedy is only available where there is proof that a respondent is unlawfully detaining a person.
“The claim that the applicant is being detained by the respondents is false, speculative and unfounded,” Lt Col Musasizi states, adding that the application is “frivolous, vexatious and brought in bad faith.”
The denial comes in response to an application filed by Dr Zedriga’s lawyers under Articles 23 and 44 of the Constitution, the Human Rights (Enforcement) Act and the Judicature (Habeas Corpus) Rules, seeking an order compelling the Attorney General, the Chief of Defence Forces, the Inspector General of Police and the Director of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security to produce her before court.
In an affidavit in support of the application, Dr Zedriga’s personal assistant, Lemi Frank John Bosco, states that she was arrested on the night of January 15, 2026, from her residence in Kyetume B, Gayaza, Wakiso District.
He states that the arrest occurred at around 7:40pm, shortly after she returned home from a voting exercise, and was carried out by joint security forces who bundled her into a military Toyota Land Cruiser, accompanied by a drone vehicle, and drove her to an unknown location.
“A few hours later, the respondents’ officers called me and informed me that she was safe but didn’t confirm where she was detained,” Lemi states.
He further states that the family reported her disappearance at Kasangati Police Station under SD reference 24/17/01/2026, but has since received no information about her whereabouts or condition.
“No family member, friend or relative has been informed on the condition of the applicant nor allowed to access her,” the affidavit states.
Justice Kavuma adjourned the matter to allow police file a response, noting that the court would issue further directions after receiving the police report.
