NUP Activist and Bobi Wine Photographer NinyeTabz Reportedly Abducted in Kamwokya

KAMPALA — Andrew Nabimanya, popularly known as NinyeTabz, a prominent National Unity Platform (NUP) activist, photographer to opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, and anti-corruption whistleblower, has reportedly been abducted by unidentified security operatives in Kampala.

According to NUP officials, NinyeTabz was seized on Wednesday evening from Kamwokya by plainclothes operatives travelling in Toyota vans commonly referred to by critics as “drones” — vehicles that have frequently been linked to controversial arrests and detentions of opposition supporters.

The reported incident has sparked renewed concern among opposition leaders and human rights advocates amid allegations of increasing political repression ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections.

NUP Leaders Condemn Reported Abduction

NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya announced the development on social media, describing the incident as another example of growing lawlessness.

“We’ve just been informed of the abduction of NinyeTabz from Kamwokya a short while ago. He has been whisked away in a drone. The lawlessness continues!” Rubongoya said.

NinyeTabz is widely known within opposition circles for documenting the activities of NUP president Bobi Wine and for exposing alleged corruption in government institutions through his social media platforms.

His reported arrest follows a series of similar incidents that opposition groups claim have targeted government critics and political activists since the disputed 2021 general election.

Arrest Comes Amid Rising Political Tensions

The reported abduction occurred just days after security operatives raided the home of opposition lawyer and former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.

Lukwago, who also serves as president of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), was allegedly held in military detention for two days before being presented at Kira Divisional Police Headquarters. He was later charged with misprision of treason and remanded to Luzira Prison.

The two incidents have intensified concerns among opposition leaders, who argue that arrests and detentions of government critics are becoming increasingly common as the country approaches the 2026 presidential elections.

Joel Ssenyonyi Raises Alarm

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Nakawa West MP Joel Ssenyonyi condemned the reported abduction and accused authorities of continuing to target opposition supporters.

“The senseless abductions continue. Tabz NinyeTabz has been taken by a drone from Kamwokya!” Ssenyonyi said.

Opposition politicians have repeatedly called for investigations into what they describe as enforced disappearances and unlawful detentions of political activists.

Anti-Corruption Activism Put NinyeTabz in Spotlight

Beyond his role within NUP, NinyeTabz gained national attention for his outspoken anti-corruption campaigns.

He frequently published allegations concerning corruption within government agencies, particularly issues involving the Ministry of Works and Transport and senior officials responsible for transport regulation and licensing.

He was also recently involved in a public social media dispute with State Minister for Local Government Justine Nameere, who publicly warned that she would take legal action against him.

Supporters argue that his activism and whistleblowing work made him a visible and influential voice in Uganda’s governance and accountability debates.

Opposition Alleges Growing Wave of Abductions

NUP maintains that reports of opposition supporters being abducted have persisted since the 2021 elections and have intensified in recent months.

Party officials claim that thousands of their supporters have faced arrest, detention or prosecution on politically motivated charges linked to election-related activities.

Critics have compared the alleged abductions to tactics associated with past periods of political repression in Uganda, particularly amid growing concerns over the expanding role of security agencies in political affairs.

Security Agencies Reject Abduction Claims

Uganda’s security agencies, including the police and military, have consistently denied allegations that opposition supporters are being abducted or unlawfully detained.

Authorities maintain that individuals taken into custody are lawfully arrested based on criminal investigations or national security concerns and reject accusations of politically motivated persecution.

As of Wednesday evening, security agencies had not publicly commented on NinyeTabz’s reported whereabouts or confirmed whether he was in official custody.

The incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of Uganda’s human rights record and fuel ongoing debate about political freedoms, security operations and democratic governance ahead of the 2026 elections.