By Sulaiman Kauki
KAMPALA. National Unity Platform (NUP) Deputy President for Buganda Region Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi has Wednesday morning resurfaced at Nateete Police Station in Kampala on after spending 20 days in incommunicado detention.
This followed his re-arrest on July 10 by unidentified security operatives in Mpigi Town ,a day after securing bail over terrorism -related charges .
Detectives at the station said Kivumbi,55 was dropped at the police station by unknown state operatives.
This publication could not independently verify the circumstances of his release or whether he will be arraigned in court any time.
The former Butambala County legislator disappeared on July 9, shortly after securing bail from the International Crimes Division of the High Court on terrorism charges.
Kivumbi had earlier addressed a charged crowd at his home, saying he intended to declare a fresh war against President Museveni’s government.
His detention prompted his lawyers to file a habeas corpus application against the Chief of Defence Forces, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General, seeking orders compelling the state to produce him dead or alive.
Last week, the High Court declined to immediately issue the writ, with Justice Collins Acellam ruling that Kivumbi’s whereabouts remained unknown and police had denied holding him.
Instead, the court directed the respondents to investigate his whereabouts and report back within seven days.
In an affidavit, ACP Godwin Tumugumye, on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, acknowledged that Kivumbi’s vehicle had been stopped at a police checkpoint but maintained that he “was not arrested, abducted or detained by the Uganda Police Force.”
Kivumbi’s reappearance just days after the ruling is likely to intensify questions over who held the opposition leader during the two weeks he remained out of public view.
Neither the police nor the Uganda People’s Defence Forces had commented on his reappearance by noon.