The Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala has ordered the Uganda People’s Defence Forces to produce missing National Youth Treasurer for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and also a former aide to former Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura dead or alive.
Enock Buntu, reportedly went missing on July 9 after he was picked from his home in Mbalwa zone, Namugongo in Wakiso district prompting his brother to petition court over his disappearance.
On Wednesday, Justice Lydia Mugambe issued a habeas corpus in which she tasked the army through the Chief of Defence Forces and the Attorney General to produce Buntu dead or alive.
“It is hereby ordered that a writ of habeas corpus is issued to the Chief of Defence Forces to have the body of Enock Buntu produced before Justice Lydia Mugambe at Civil Division of the High Court on the 22nd day of January 2019 to show cause why he should not be released,” the order issued on December 19 reads in part.
In August, family members said a group of seven armed men who picked Buntu at around 5 am ordered him 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 said they later 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.
“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 John Agaba in his habeas corpus application received by the court on October 25.
“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.”
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.
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