The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has denied holding National Unity Platform (NUP) Deputy President for Northern Uganda, Dr Lina Zedriga, as the High Court heard an application challenging her alleged disappearance.
Appearing before the High Court Civil Division in Kampala on Friday, the Attorney General’s representative, Senior State Attorney Susan Akello, told court that the army does not have Dr Zedriga in its custody. She presented a sworn affidavit from the UPDF rejecting claims that the opposition politician was arrested or detained by military or intelligence officers.
The affidavit, sworn by Lt Col Edgar Musasizi, Director of Civil Affairs at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, states that there is no record within the UPDF or the Directorate of Defence Intelligence and Security indicating that Dr Zedriga was ever arrested or held by officers under their command.
He added that checks conducted at all gazetted military detention facilities confirmed that she has never been in UPDF custody.
Lt Col Musasizi further described the court application as misconceived and speculative, arguing that it is unsupported by credible evidence and that the respondents were wrongly accused and improperly joined to the case.
He also denied knowledge of the alleged military vehicles said to have been used in the arrest, noting that UPDF vehicles are clearly identifiable by official number plates.
The denials follow an application filed earlier this week by Kiiza and Mugisha Advocates, acting on behalf of Dr. Zedriga. The lawyers are seeking a court order requiring authorities to either produce a detained person before court or explain where they are being held.
In their application, the lawyers named the Attorney General, the Chief of Defence Forces, the Inspector General of Police and the Director of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), as respondents.
According to court documents, Dr Zedriga, was allegedly arrested on January 15, 2026, from her home in Kyetume B, Gayaza, Wakiso District, shortly after the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
Her personal assistant, Lemi Frank John Bosco, swore an affidavit stating that she was picked up at around 7:40 p.m. by joint security forces and driven away in a convoy that included a military Toyota Land Cruiser and a drone to an unknown location.
The affidavit further states that Dr Zedriga has since been held incommunicado, without access to her family or lawyers, and beyond the constitutionally permitted 48 hours, without being produced before court.
Her family later reported her disappearance at Kasangati Police Station after failing to trace her whereabouts.
The application argues that her continued detention is illegal and unconstitutional, and amounts to political persecution, psychological torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. The lawyers are also asking court to order the respondents to pay the costs of the application.
When the matter came up for mention before the Head of the High Court Civil Division, Justice Joyce Kavuma, it emerged that while the Attorney General and the UPDF had filed their responses, the Uganda Police Force had not yet submitted any affidavit or report regarding the alleged arrest and disappearance.
As a result, Justice Kavuma adjourned the case to Wednesday next week at midday, giving police time to conduct investigations and file a response.
Dr Zedriga is one of three NUP Deputy Presidents reportedly arrested following the January 15, 2026 elections. Another, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, the party’s Deputy President for the Buganda region, was arrested on January 22, 2026. Police say his detention is linked to post-election violence in Butambala District, where seven people were killed. Kivumbi is accused of orchestrating the attacks after losing his parliamentary race.
Jolly Jackline Tukamushaba, NUP’s Deputy President for Western Uganda, was reported arrested on the eve of the elections.
The developments come amid heightened political tension following the elections, in which NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi lost the presidential race to incumbent Yoweri Museveni, securing 24.5 percent of the vote. Kyagulanyi is reportedly in hiding.
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