Wampeewo, Wakiso – Godfrey Nakabaale, a 56-year-old civil engineer from Wampeewo-Kasangati, claims he was abducted and tortured in February 2021, in an ordeal that lasted more than two weeks and left him traumatized.

According to Nakabaale, the incident began on the night of February 2, while he was waiting in his car outside his home. He says that unknown men forcibly pulled him from the vehicle and placed him in a van, where he was handcuffed to a seat and subjected to physical abuse.

Nakabaale recounts being taken to an undisclosed location, where hoods were placed over his head, and he was confined to a dark room. He claims he was repeatedly questioned about political activities and alleged connections to opposition movements. “They beat us with sticks, electric wires, and gun butts, sometimes forcing us to lie down as they walked on our backs,” Nakabaale says.

He describes being held in harsh conditions, including being served food near a toilet and confined in darkness for extended periods. Nakabaale says the captors accused him of supporting a political figure and demanded information about supposed plans. Denying these accusations, he says, only intensified the abuse.

The ordeal, he claims, left him struggling with fear, sleeplessness, and thoughts of death, while worrying about the safety of his family. On February 24, he says he was blindfolded and told it was “his final hour.”

Nakabaale says he was eventually dropped at Kawempe Police Station later that night. His head remained covered and hands tied, while the individuals who abducted him reportedly instructed police to hold him “pending investigation.” The following morning, Nakabaale says he was able to contact his family and was later allowed to sign police bonds as investigations continued.

A resident of Kasangati who did not want to disclose his name told reporters that he witnessed Nakabaale’s violent abduction. “I saw men dressed in civilian clothes surround his car,” the neighbor said. “They pulled him out roughly, and when he shouted for help, one of them hit him hard before they bundled him into a van that sped off toward Gayaza Road.” The witness said the incident left the neighborhood and Nakabaale’s children in fear and disbelief.

Human rights advocates have highlighted Nakabaale’s account as an example of the risks faced by individuals in politically sensitive situations. Legal experts say that, while allegations like these require thorough investigation, the report underscores the importance of protecting citizens’ rights and ensuring due process.