The Chairperson of the National Unity Platform (NUP) Electoral Commission and former Woman Member of Parliament aspirant, Harriet Simba Chemutai, has allegedly been abducted from her home in Kapchorwa district and driven to an unknown location.
The incident is said to have occurred at midnight at her residence in Kokosojon village, Munarya Sub-countyin Kapchorwa District.
According to Lucias Chebet, a relative of Chemutai, several unidentified armed personnel stormed the home while she was seated in the sitting room watching a movie.
Chebet says the men forcefully entered the house, searched several rooms, confiscated Chemutai’s phone, and ordered her to stand up and leave with them.
“She asked them who they were and why they wanted her to leave the house at that time. She was seated and also on her phone, but before they took her, they first confiscated it,” Chebet narrated. Police in the region say they have not yet received an official report regarding the alleged abduction.
Fredmark Chesang, the Sipi Regional Police Spokesperson, noted that although information is circulating on social media, police are still waiting for a formal complaint to be lodged.
“We have not received any report of a kidnapping. We have seen the information on social media, but we are yet to verify it. We shall give an update after verification because as of now, no case has been reported,” Chesang said.
Meanwhile, tension escalated in Kapchorwa town as residents blocked the Kapchorwa-Mbale highway, demanding information on the whereabouts of Chemutai.
An eyewitness, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said the road blockade followed alleged police negligence after the family attempted to report the matter.
“The family went to report the case at Sipi Police Post, but officers allegedly refused to register it at night, asking them to take it to Kapchorwa Central Police Station instead,” the witness said.
The alleged abduction comes amid growing concern over the recent disappearance and alleged kidnapping of several National Unity Platform members in different parts of the country, particularly during the ongoing political period.
NUP leaders have repeatedly accused security agencies of targeting their members, claims that government and police authorities have consistently denied, insisting that arrests where they occur are lawful.
****URN****