The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has again denied that National Unity Platform (NUP) deputy president for Northern Uganda, Dr Lina Zedriga is under military detention in Gulu. There is growing suspicion that Zadriga is detained in Gulu barracks.
Dr Zedriga reportedly went missing on January 18, 2026, three days after the general elections, in which NUP leader, musician-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, challenged long-time president Yoweri Museveni.
Since her disappearance, Dr Zedriga’s whereabouts have remained unclear. The NUP party president, Kyagulanyi, too, has gone into hiding since the election and has since contested the results.
On social media, unverified reports alleged that Dr. Zedriga was being detained at the UPDF Fourth Infantry Division barracks in Gulu City, claims the army has publicly dismissed.
Maj Gen Felix Bisozzori, the Fourth Infantry Division Commander, told Uganda Radio Network on Thursday that the alleged detention of Dr Zedriga in Gulu was false.
“That’s a pure lie, these people want to just incite people, how do they bring the deputy president to the division, it’s not for civilians, that’s a lie,” said Gen Busizoorri.
Dr Zedriga’s case has drawn attention to the fate of several NUP party members and leaders who have reportedly been arrested or disappeared during the general election across the country.
Samuel Ssebi Okello, the spokesperson for NUP in Acholi, told Uganda Radio Network in an interview on Wednesday that he is in hiding and fearing an imminent arrest by security agencies.
“I’m not safe, i my self i am hiding somewhere because we have become targets as leaders of NUP in this Subregion,” said Okello.
Okello also noted that other members of the party are in hiding, fearing arrest by security operatives.
“Its not a crime to support the opposition. Our party is legally registered, and we have every right to support a party we feel is right for us,” he said.
Samuel Okot, the NUP Coordinator in Northern Uganda, equally noted he was in hiding, alleging that most of the party coordinators in the region had been arrested.
“Most of my coordinators at the district level were arrested, and i was equally supposed to be arrested, but I survived and escaped from home, and even up to now i feel my home is not safe.” Said Okot.
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