Brother sues government over Kayihura aide who went missing four months ago

A brother to Enock Buntu, the missing National Youth Treasurer for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and also a former aide to former Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura has sued government over his disappearance.

Buntu reportedly went missing on July 9 after he was picked from his home in Mbalwa zone, Namugongo in Wakiso district.

In a habeas corpus application filed through lawyers of Ssemwanga Muwazi and Company Advocates, John Agaba wants court to order government produce his brother dead or alive without fail.

“Since his arrest, Buntu’s relatives have made necessary efforts to have him released on police bond but all efforts have not successful without any lawful justification,” said Agaba in his application received by the court on October 25.

“His continued detention is unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful because he has never been charged of any offence since his arrest.”

In August, family members said a group of seven armed men who picked him at around 5 am ordered Buntu to surrender his phones and searched his house before driving off with him to an unknown destination.

In their habeas corpus application, Buntu’s brother says they later in August learnt that he had been taken to the Makindye Military barracks adding that he is still detained at the facility on allegations of being found in possession of a fire arm.

“The respondent (government) and/ or his agents have no reasonable excuse for the continued detention of the applicant.He has since detention been deprived of his personal liberty in a manner contrary to the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda yet he has children below 12 years to look after," reads part of the application.

Following Kayihura’s arrest earlier this year, a number of   senior police officers thought to be his cronies were also arrested by the army and detained at Makindye barracks over unknown charges.