For over two weeks, the Dr. family, politicians and friends to Dr. Luggya Kayingo, Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA) president has been on search for their after his disappearance on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at Entebbe International airport, upon arrival from South Africa.
Kayingo, who for a while has been living in exile due to political persecution, boarded a Kenya Airways flight from Nairobi, landed at the airport around midday, moments before relatives and close associates, received distressing messages claiming security involvement in hold him.
After several unsuccessful attempts to locate a abducted and missing Luggya, family led by Nakimuli Claire, sister ran to the High Court Civil Division, to compel the government of Uganda through the Attorney General, (AG) to produce the victim (Dr. Luggya), before court dead or alive.
Several Parties including the government represented by the AG, the office occupied by Sc Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abbas Byakagaba, Chief of Defense Forces, (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and Director of Intelligence and Security (DIS), Major General Richard Otto were sued in a habeas corpus application.
In a ruling by justice Acellam Collins, of the High Court, Kmapala, an order to the respondents was issued to produce the body of the victim (Dr. Lugya Kayingo) immediately before August 8, 2025.
“A writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum doth issue requiring The Attorney General of Uganda, The Inspector General of Police (IGP), The Chief of Defence Forces, UPDE, The Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), to have the body of ROBERT Lugya Kayingo produced immediately before the High Court of Uganda Kampala (Civil Division) to undergo and receive all and singular such matters and things as the High Court shall then and there consider concerning them in their behalf.” Justice Acellam Collins, ordered.
“The Writ shall be returned not later than 8th, August 2025 at 9am” Justice Acellam order with a timeline.
In an interview after receiving the ruling, Nakimuli Claire, Dr. Lugya’s sister who sworn the affidavit to support the application welcomed before calling upon all those holding their relative, to release him so that he can take care of his family and other responsibilities.
Patrick Turinawe, one of the lawyers to the applicant, to, welcomed the ruling and appealed to all security Agencies to comply with the directive.
Dr. Lugya joins a list of the many missing political opponents of the 40 year ruling National Resistance Movement, (NRM) and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni iron hand against opposition, not forgetting those in different prisons, some without trial, others facing trumped up charges according to the supreme court ruling on the illegality and composition of the General Court Martial, mainly from the National Unity Platform, (NUP), Kizza Besigye and his aide Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, who were abducted and illegally transported to Uganda from Kenya.
By; Mukose Arnold Anthony,
Senior Journalist, Programmes Director at Digitalk TV,
Media and Human Rights Activist/Defender.