Butambala MP,Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi has announced that the opposition intends to bring the Ugandan government to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the disappearance of Ugandan citizens.
Muwanga emphasised the need for accountability and justice.
He made these comments after the national symposium on the rule of law, human rights, and policing in Uganda.
Legal experts presented their findings, which aimed to identify and document initiatives for reforming the Uganda Police Force since 1986.
The objective was to establish a democratic, accountable, people-centered, effective, and efficient national police force.
According to Kivumbi, there are clear indications of contradictions among government officials regarding the missing persons.
He expressed gratitude to Ugandans who have used social media platforms to expose the government's deceit.
"By analysing statements from various officials, such as Kibalama, the deputy Attorney General, and the government spokesperson, it becomes evident that the government is responsible for the murder and disappearance of Kibalama,"he said.
Kivumbi pointed out that if the government were to be charged with murder, it could be easily tried within the country's judicial system.
He also stated that the disappearance of a single person is a crime against humanity and can be tried at the ICC.
"I believe we now have a strong case to reinforce our existing case at the ICC. After our meeting on Tuesday, our leader Mathias Mpuuga will present our findings on the floor of Parliament. We will thoroughly investigate this issue from all angles, and we will not relent," he said.
In July of this year, a group of individuals filed a petition with the ICC, accusing President Museveni and his son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba of sponsoring violence and abusing critics.
The testimonies detailed arbitrary arrests, incommunicado detentions, and torture of opposition figures and activists.
The victims were allegedly interrogated about their connections with opposition figure Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, and subjected to physical harm and degrading treatment in "torture centers."
Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, has been implicated due to his role as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, while Kainerugaba has been accused of overseeing the alleged torture centers.
Previously, in 2020, Dr. Kizza Besigye, the former leader of the fractured Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), petitioned the ICC, accusing Museveni and his government of human rights abuses and violations.
The ICC has faced criticism in Africa over the past decade, with many countries threatening to withdraw from the court due to its perceived focus on prosecuting crimes occurring within Africa rather than elsewhere in the world.
Uganda was among the countries that threatened to leave.
Despite Museveni's previous disdain for the court, referring to its officers as "useless people," Uganda remains a party to the Rome Statute, allowing the court to prosecute cases involving crimes against humanity that occur within the country.
The ICC has yet to decide whether it will take on the case, as only a fraction of the cases submitted to the court move forward.
Opposition members returned to the parliamentary sitting on Wednesday after a month-long boycott, drawing attention to the urgent need to address human rights concerns.
State for Internal Affairs David Muhoozi claimed that the top leadership of the National Unit Platform (NUP) prevented relatives of missing persons from speaking to the police, impeding the resolution of some cases.
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Despite Muhoozi's claims, opposition MPs insist on the immediate action of the government to safeguard the fundamental rights of citizens.
In response to the Leader of the Opposition Mathias Mpuuga's assertion that Uganda is among the worst human rights abusers, Muhoozi denies the claim, stating that any alleged abuses should be addressed specifically rather than in a generalized manner.
Kivumbi outlined several demands, including accountability for all missing person cases, a state apology to end impunity, prosecution of responsible officials, and a government commitment to prevent the recurrence of such acts.
He stated that their response on Tuesday will determine the next course of action and strategies they will adopt.
