There is nothing you can do about missing persons - NUP tells Balaam

The National Unity Platform (NUP) has asked the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Mr Balam Barugahara, to stop being inconsiderate to the miseries of their alleged 18 missing persons.

NUP says the new minister has no capacity to so what has failed his seniors for years.

According to NUP Secretary General Lewis Rubongoya, Minister Balaam's powers cannot supersede that of his superiors like internal affairs, justice and constitutional affairs ministries, and parliament which have failed to compel government to release the missing persons.

"He says that lists should be compiled and given to him," Rubongoya said.

"This is a matter that has never been handled by the internal affairs, by the justice minister... and Uganda Human Rights Commission alleges that they are 'ghost' missing persons. Who is he whose powers supersede his seniors?"

While swearing in at State House last week, Mr Balaam challenged NUP to produce the list of the missing person so that he beseeches President Museveni to release them.

He reiterated his commitment on the matter when taking oath of allegiance to Parliament's creed days later.

But Rubongoya suggested Balaam's actions were callous and inconsiderate of pain the victims and their relatives are going through.

He said the government should account for and produce the missing persons.

Rubongoya made these remarks shortly after filing of a petition compelling government to produce the 18 missing persons by the lawyers of NUP at the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala.