David Musiri
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Confusion and misgivings have emerged over the whereabouts of political activist and former National Unity Platform (NUP) head of institutions David Musiri, following reports that heavily armed operatives seized him from his home along Salaama Road in Kampala on Saturday morning.
Musiri’s reported disappearance has triggered concern among opposition politicians, human rights activists and members of the public, particularly because it came just hours after political and business strategist Ronald Leonard Egesa was reportedly abducted by armed men in Kampala.
As of Sunday, November 15, 2026, Musiri’s whereabouts remained unknown, with security agencies yet to issue an official explanation regarding his reported arrest, the circumstances surrounding his disappearance or where he is being held.
The circumstances of the incident have raised fresh questions about the safety of political activists and the apparent targeting of individuals associated with opposition political activities.
According to accounts circulating on social media, heavily armed operatives reportedly stormed Musiri’s residence on Salaama Road in Makindye Division before bundling him into a camouflaged vehicle commonly known as a drone.
The operatives allegedly whisked him away to an undisclosed location, leaving his family and associates uncertain about his whereabouts.
The reported incident was brought to public attention by NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, who condemned the alleged abduction and demanded Musiri’s immediate release.
“Activist Musiri David also apparently taken away by heavily armed operatives from his home on Salaama Road this morning. Very unfortunate times we’re living in,” Rubongoya wrote.
He accompanied the message with calls for the release of Musiri and other political prisoners, expressing concern about the circumstances surrounding the reported operation.
Outcry Over His Whereabouts
Rubongoya’s revelation triggered reactions from opposition figures, activists and other public personalities, who questioned why Musiri would be taken away without any publicly communicated explanation.
Former Makerere University student activist and political figure Nubian Li also joined calls demanding answers and his release.
The Makerere Law Society and other activist circles also expressed concern over the reported incident, adding to growing pressure on security agencies to account for the missing activist.
Academic and activist Stella Nyanzi also reported that armed men had taken Musiri, while Mordecai Muriisa drew attention to the timing of the incident, linking it to the reported abduction of Egesa.
However, the accounts of those who witnessed or reported the incident have not been independently verified, and no security agency had publicly confirmed taking Musiri into custody by Sunday.
Egesa’s Disappearance Raises More Questions
Musiri’s reported disappearance came shortly after Egesa was allegedly seized from the premises housing Radio One and Akaboozi FM on Friday, November 13.
According to Radio One’s account, Egesa had just appeared on an Akaboozi FM talk show hosted by Jude Bukenya when armed men in civilian clothes reportedly took him from the station’s car park.
The men allegedly bundled him into a white van commonly referred to as a drone before driving away.
Agora also reported the incident, describing the individuals involved as military personnel, although their identities and the security agency they allegedly represented remained unverified.
The proximity of the two incidents has intensified speculation about whether the reported disappearances are connected.
However, no evidence has been presented publicly establishing a connection between the two cases.
From NUP Leadership to Democratic Front
Musiri is a political and human rights activist who built his public profile through student activism at Makerere University and opposition political organising.
He previously served as head of institutions at NUP, a position through which he coordinated the party’s activities in universities and other learning institutions.
However, during the party’s leadership changes on June 11, 2025, Benjamin Akiso replaced him in the position.
Musiri subsequently moved away from the NUP leadership structure and joined the Democratic Front, where he featured as a parliamentary candidate for Makindye West ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Born in Luwafu in Makindye, Musiri has previously spoken about how his personal struggles to raise school fees influenced his political activism, particularly his opposition to increases in university tuition fees at Makerere.
He also holds a diploma in telecommunications engineering.
Previous Abduction Allegations
The latest reported disappearance is not the first time Musiri has raised concerns about alleged security-related harassment.
In 2021, following the general elections, he claimed that plain-clothes gunmen had abducted him in Kampala and detained him for four days.
He alleged that his captors subjected him to beatings and interrogated him about the opposition’s plans following the disputed election.
Those allegations had previously drawn attention to his experiences as an opposition activist.
His latest reported disappearance has therefore revived concerns among his supporters about his safety and the possibility of another prolonged detention.
With his whereabouts still unknown, opposition politicians and activists are demanding answers from security agencies.
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