TAKE ACTION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER FORCIBLY DISAPPEARED

Uganda UA 73.25

On July 17, Robert Lugya Kayingo – a Ugandan-South African lawyer and President of the Ugandan Federal Alliance, an opposition political party – was arbitrarily arrested by Ugandan security agents at Entebbe Airport, after disembarking from his flight from South Africa, and has not been seen or heard from since. The security agents who carried out his arrest did not identify themselves or state the reasons for his arrest, nor has any official information been disclosed as to his fate and whereabouts. The Ugandan authorities must immediately disclose where Robert Lugya Kayingo is being held, ensure he is granted access to his family and lawyer, and unless charged with a recognizable offense, immediately release him.

Urge the Attorney General of The Republic of Uganda to immediately disclose the whereabouts of Robert Lugya Kayingo - send your email using our email-writing tool.

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Attorney General

Kiryowa

Kiwanuka

Attorney General of The Republic of Uganda

Dear Hon. Kiwanuka,

I am writing to express grave concern about the arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearance of Ugandan-South African Robert Lugya Kayingo.

Robert Lugya Kayingo is a lawyer and since January 2025, President of the Ugandan Federal Alliance. On the morning of July 17, his flight landed at Entebbe Airport from South Africa where he lives with his family. He had returned to Uganda to attend his uncle’s funeral. Upon landing, he was arbitrarily arrested by immigration officers who later handed him over to unknown security agents from an unspecified department. Robert Lugya Kayingo was able to communicate his arrest to his family via phone until around 5pm on the same day. No one has heard from him since.

On July 23, his family filed a habeus corpus application at the High Court of Uganda. During the ruling that took place on July 31, the state counsel appeared in court and stated that the state agencies named in the application do not have Robert Lugya Kayingo in their custody but that they were looking for him.

I urge you to immediately disclose the whereabouts of Robert Lugya Kayingo and unless charged with a recognizable offense, to immediately release him. Pending his release, I urge you to ensure he is protected from torture and other ill-treatment and granted access to his family, a lawyer of his choice, and adequate healthcare.

Yours sincerely,

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