Kyagulanyi Asks Public to Pray for Abducted Sam Mugumya

The NUP Presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, has called on the public to pray for opposition activist Sam Mugumya, whose whereabouts remain unknown.   

Mugumya was allegedly abducted by State security agents on 26th  August from a local hotel in Nyamitanga, Mbarara City, and taken to an unknown location. 

Since then, efforts by opposition activists and political leaders to trace his whereabouts or demand his release have not yielded any positive results. Security authorities have also denied holding him.   

While addressing a rally at Mukagaashe playground in Rukungiri Municipality on Wednesday evening, Kyagulanyi said that before the rally, he had spoken by phone with Mugumya’s mother, who was unable to attend due to old age. 

According to Kyagulanyi, the mother expressed concern for her missing son and asked Ugandans to pray for him.   

Kyagulanyi also lamented that Dr. Kizza Besigye, a retired colonel and former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, now leader of the People’s Front for Freedom and Democracy (PFF) and currently in prison on treason charges, was betrayed by some of his fellow opposition leaders.   

Kyagulanyi’s call to pray for Mugumya came after his supporters escorted him from Rukungiri town to the campaign venue, chanting songs demanding freedom for both Mugumya and Besigye. He also criticized Rukungiri District security authorities for allocating him a rally venue far from town instead of the Rukungiri Municipal Stadium.  

Kyagulanyi further urged voters to mobilize, vote, and guard their votes, expressing doubt in the neutrality of Electoral Commission Chairman Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, whom he accused of siding with President Museveni. 

He claimed that Byabakama has remained silent despite ongoing arrests and harassment of NUP supporters.   

According to the Electoral Commission roadmap, Kyagulanyi is expected to continue his campaign in Mitooma and Bushenyi districts on Thursday.