A family in Masindi is demanding that security operatives produce their missing son, who armed plain-clothed men allegedly kidnaped in October. More than a month later, the family still does not know where he is being held-or whether he is even still alive. The family of Mr Musindi Musa and Ms Aisha Katusiime, all residents of Kinogozi A Cell in Kisita Ward, Karujubu Division in Masindi Municipality, allege that their 25-year-old son, Reagan Kiiza Mustafa, was violently kidnapped from their home during day by armed men they believe were either police or Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) personnel.
Mr Musindi says the people, all armed, who kidnapped his son came in a silver Toyota Hiace vehicle, commonly known as drone. They were wearing plain clothes. They drove into his compound on October. ‘Plain-clothed armed men jumped out and grabbed my son from the veranda. When I asked why they were taking him, they fired bullets in the air and into the ground. They even attempted to take me, but one of them said their mission was only to take my son, and they drove away,’ he said.
Mr Musindi and his wife, who have been living in fear since then, say they reported a case of a missing person to the police. They have been searching for their son at many of the police station around Bunyoro Sub-region, but all in vain. ‘We began searching for Mustafa at Karujubu Police Post and later at Masindi Police Station, and also visited several police stations across the region, but none claimed to have Mustafa in custody,” he said. ‘We had always heard stories of drones kidnapping people in Kampala, but we never imagined it would happen to us here in Masindi,’ he added.
Mr Musindi has since met the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and the District Police Commander (DPC), but he claims he has received no help or information about his son. ‘I do not sleep. Every night, I am wondering if my son is alive or dead. If he committed a crime, let them produce him in court. And if he was killed, they should give me his body so I can bury him and have some relief,’ he said. Mr Musindi insists that his son had no criminal record and was not involved in politics.
‘My son is a humble boy. He was a plumber and also worked as a turnboy on a fuso truck in the area. He has never been involved in crime,’ he said. Mustafa’s mother, Aisha Katusiime, said her son’s disappearance has taken a major toll on her health and finances. ‘Since the day my son was kidnapped, I have not had any rest. My head is always hurting. I cannot sleep,’ she says. She has searched for him in Masindi, Kiryandongo, Nakasongola, and even Bombo Military Barracks-yet no officer has confirmed detaining anyone by his name.
Mr James Mijumbi, the chairperson for Kinogozi B Cell, says since the day the boy was kidnapped, they launched a community search but found no trace of Mustafa. ‘This is the first incident of this kind in my area. The family informed us immediately, and we did our best to look for him. I condemn the act. If someone is arrested, by law, they must be produced in court, not disappeared,’ he said. Mr Solomon Asiimwe, LC3 chairperson for Karujubu Division, also acknowledged the incident.
‘We are trying as leaders to trace Mustafa’s whereabouts. If he has been arrested, he should be brought to court. Disappearance without communication is unacceptable,’ Mr Asiimwe said. When contacted, Uganda Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma said the police do not have any suspect by the name of Reagan Kiiza Mustafa in their cells. ‘I am going to inquire from all regional commanders, CID, and the operations directorate. If we have him in custody, I will inform you. At the moment, we do not have information about his arrest,’ he said.
Abduction.
‘Plain-clothed armed men jumped out and grabbed my son from the veranda. When I asked why they were taking him, they fired bullets in the air and into the ground. They even attempted to take me, but one of them said their mission was only to take my son…” Mr Musindi Musa, father of the victim
Police position.
‘I am going to inquire from all regional commanders, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the operations directorate. If we have him in custody, I will inform you. At the moment, we do not have information about his arrest,’ Uganda Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma
Similar incidents
Early this year, Mr Edward Ssebuufu, aka Eddie Mutwe, a personal bodyguard of NUP presidential flagbearer Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, was abducted in Mukono District and held incommunicado for some two weeks. Two weeks later, the Chief of Defence Force, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, posted on his X handle, a half-naked picture of Eddie Mutwe confirming that he was in his basement, ‘learning the Runyankore language.’