STATE TERROR UNLEASHED: Opposition Leader Bobi Wine’s Brother, Nyanzi, Abducted in Broad Daylight

By AGGREY BULUBA

Kampala – The drumbeat of war is audible to all, even the deaf. On February 17, Uganda experienced another alarming act of state repression—an abduction in broad daylight, marked by a blatant disregard for shame or fear.

Fred Nnyanzi, a prominent activist and brother of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), was forcibly taken from the streets shortly after pledging to act if political prisoners, including Dr. Kizza Besigye, were not released within 48 hours. He made this declaration at the National Unity Platform (NUP) headquarters.

Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze, who was with Nnyanzi before his disappearance, expressed her disbelief. “For most of the meeting, he was quiet and deep in thought. But as we wrapped up, he stood up and declared he was ready to lead the charge if the regime did not free Dr. Besigye and the others within 48 hours. His words were powerful and resonated with conviction.”

Nnyanzi then attended another political gathering before leaving with NUP Deputy Spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro. Minutes after parting ways with Nambooze and other opposition leaders, tragedy struck.

“News spread on social media that Nnyanzi had been abducted at Kawempe Kubbiri,” Nambooze recalled.

Eyewitnesses reported that heavily armed security operatives in an unmarked government vehicle—known for enforced disappearances—intercepted his car and dragged him away. “In seconds, he vanished into the shadows of state repression,” she said.

His abduction occurred less than an hour after he and other opposition leaders had strategized on securing the release of political prisoners. Ironically, he became one of them.

For Nambooze, this is a pivotal moment. “Action is needed now; tomorrow may be too late. We must rise against state capture before we all end up in Museveni’s dungeons. The time is now. Enough is enough.”

Ugandans face a crucial question: will they demand justice, or will fear silence them? As elders say, if you do not uproot the weed in time, it will overtake the garden.