In the run-up to Uganda’s 2021 elections, a shadow loomed over the country as reports of missing
political activists surged. Among those who disappeared was Mike Musaazi, a volunteer coordinator for
the National Unity Platform (NUP). His tale of abduction, brutal torture, and eventual escape exemplifies
the systemic repression faced by supporters of Bobi Wine.
Musaazi was kidnapped after distributing campaign materials and organizing political meetings. Security
forces raided NUP offices, and Musaazi, like many others, vanished into Uganda’s secret detention
network. His journey through unmarked facilities exposed the violent lengths the government went to
silence dissent.
For Musaazi, the days turned into a nightmare of torture and accusations, including false claims of
insurgency and treason. He endured horrific abuse while being pressured to denounce his ties to the
NUP. His fate remained uncertain until an unexpected hospital visit reunited him with his family,
sparking a daring escape.
Musaazi’s story represents only a fraction of the disappearances that marred the election period.
Thousands of NUP supporters, many of them young activists, were abducted, and their whereabouts
remain unknown. Families of the missing continue to demand answers, with the government offering
little transparency.
Uganda’s dark chapter of missing persons, like Musaazi, underscores the human cost of political
repression in a nation yearning for change.
