The government Chief Whip Jane Ruth Aceng

By Sulaiman Kauki

Government has received a list of people alleged to be held incommunicado and has begun following up with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to establish their whereabouts, Government Chief Whip Jane Ruth Aceng has told Parliament.

Aceng said the list was submitted by the Leader of the Opposition following a request from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and had since been forwarded to the ministry for verification and response.

Her statement came after Jinja South Division East MP Paul Mwiru raised concerns in Parliament on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, over the alleged detention of Baba TV journalist Eria Jjengo and other people reportedly being held without being produced in court.

Mwiru told the House that Jjengo was allegedly picked up from his workplace by security personnel and had not been seen or presented before a court of law.

“Security forces picked Eria Jjengo, an employee of Baba TV, from their workplace. They have held him incommunicado up to date. He has not been produced in the courts of law,” Mwiru said.

Jjengo’s disappearance had earlier been reported to Kira Road Police Station, while the Uganda Journalists Association and Baba TV called for investigations into his whereabouts.

Mwiru said Jjengo was among several cases previously brought to Parliament concerning people allegedly being detained without access to court.

He asked Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth to engage the Executive and security agencies to establish the whereabouts of those named and address concerns over prolonged detention without court appearance.

Aceng told Parliament that the government had already initiated a process to investigate the cases raised by the Opposition.

She said the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Affairs had written to the Leader of the Opposition before Parliament’s recess requesting the names of people alleged to have been held incommunicado.

The Opposition subsequently submitted the names, which Aceng said she forwarded to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for follow-up.

“I submitted those names to Ministry of Internal Affairs, and they are preparing to come and respond. So in addition to the one that you have raised today, I will also submit those names,” Aceng said.

Second Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business Crispus Kiyonga said the Executive was willing to work with Mwiru to establish the facts surrounding the allegations.

“I welcome his invitation that we should get together, get details, and take appropriate action,” Kiyonga said.

Speaker Oboth welcomed the commitment from the Executive, saying cooperation between Parliament and Government was necessary in addressing concerns raised by legislators.

“That is the government we all want,” Oboth said in response to Aceng’s undertaking to follow up the cases.