Parliament has tasked government to issue a report about former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) stalwart, Sam Mugumya who has been detained in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for now two years.
Mugumya was arrested in October 2014 in DRC and this was revealed by the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) Spokesperson Paddy Ankunda, who said that Mugumya had been found together with four other people in possession of big sums of dollars and documents linking them to a rebel group in eastern DRC with intentions of overthrowing the Ugandan government.
On the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Buhweju County legislator, Francis Mwijukye rose on a matter of public importance, demanding that relevant authorities come out and explain to Ugandans about Mugumya’s status in the foreign country.
Mwijukye noted that since Mugumya’s arrested, government has not bothered to follow and find out about his status, or made any efforts for his repatriation.
“We last heard that Sam Mugumya was arrested and detained in Ndoro Military detention in Kinshasha and since then, he has never been charged and no report on his security or release has ever been issued,” Mwijukye noted.
The issue was further debated by other legislators including Mbale Municipality Member of Parliament, Jack Wamanga Wamayi who demanded that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains to the country whether there is any reciprocal arrangement that could allow Ugandans imprisoned in foreign countries to be repatriated and charged home.
The Speaker Rebecca Kagada in the end tasked the Minister of Defense to prepare a report on Mugumya’s status and present it before Parliament as soon as possible.