Ugandan journalist claims army has kidnapped her family
A Ugandan journalist says the military has abducted members of his family for unknown reasons.
In a series of tweets, Remmy Bahati who is based in the USA, claims several army officers raided her home in a ‘drone’ and took away his brother, cousin, and a family friend.
A drone is a car mainly used by Ugandan authorities during operations. The car normally has tinted vehicles and without registration numbers.
Bahati says his brother reached out to her on the phone when the army officers raided her home which is based in Fort Portal, some 300km from Kampala.
Just In: Armed plain clothed men driving a drone with no plates have stormed my 76yr old father’s house in Fort Portal City searching for ‘guns’. They didn’t find any & abducted my brother, cousin and his friend who was visiting. Their whereabouts are unknown. Help me find them😭 pic.twitter.com/5RET7S3CH1
— Remmy Bahati (@BahatiRemmy) October 1, 2022
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has appeared to deny the kidnap allegations.
But Ms Bahati would hear none of that.
😭😭 UPDF don’t play games with me. I need to know where my brother is. Period! The unlawful detentions, torture and abductions must stop. pic.twitter.com/a6TG7OKn0I
— Remmy Bahati (@BahatiRemmy) October 2, 2022
The matter has attracted varied debate on social media with popular opposition politician Bobi Wine among those who weighed in.
“Unless Museveni and his criminal gang are stopped, no one including those who defend these acts will not taste them. All people of goodwill must agree it’s enough,” he tweeted.
Apparently, they claimed to be looking for guns which they didn't find. The three people's whereabouts are unknown. Unless Museveni and his criminal gang are stopped, NO ONE including those who defend these acts will not taste them. All people of good will must agree it's ENOUGH
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) October 2, 2022
Bahati’s claims come barely a week after footage showing Ugandan military officers kidnapping a man of Pakistani origin went viral on social media.
In the video, several men in military uniform and civilian clothes are seen bundling the Pakistani national in a Toyota Probox.
Daily Monitor reported the men were said to have kidnapped the businessman near Kireka Grammar Primary School in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, and later robbed him of an unspecified amount of money before dumping him in an isolated area on Mukono-Kayunga Road.
There have also been reports of businessmen and political sympathisers being kidnapped by authorities.
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