The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has denied ever arresting or detaining National Unity Platform (NUP) supporter Agatha Nazziwa, commonly known as “Gen Blue Tick” or “Blue Tick wa Bobi,” despite her reappearance after weeks of alleged incommunicado detention.
This is contained in a Return to the Writ of Habeas Corpus filed before the High Court Civil Division in Kampala in Miscellaneous Cause No. 119 of 2026.
The application had been filed by Nazziwa seeking court intervention under the constitutional provisions on personal liberty and protection from unlawful detention.
In the court document dated May 29, 2026, Lt Elly Musinguzi, a legal officer attached to the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, stated that investigations had been conducted within the UPDF and the Special Forces Command (SFC) following the court order.
Lt Musinguzi told court that Nazziwa was not being held by the army or in any recognized military detention facility.
“The said Agatha Nazziwa alias ‘Gen Blue Tick’ or ‘Blue Tick wa Bobi’ is not in the custody, detention or control of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, the Special Forces Command, or any Unit’s known gazetted military detention facility maintained by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces,” the affidavit reads in part.
The military further stated that it had no record of her arrest, detention or confinement and therefore could not produce her before court as required by the habeas corpus writ.
However, shortly after the filing of the military response, NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya announced that Nazziwa had been released from detention.
In a statement posted on X, Rubongoya alleged that Nazziwa had been abducted on April 9 by armed men dressed in military uniform while on her way to attend a vigil for Edith Katende, the wife of a party supporter identified as Waiswa.
He claimed she had since been held incommunicado before being released from the Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS), formerly Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence headquarters in Mbuya.
Rubongoya further alleged that during detention, Nazziwa was moved through various detention facilities and subjected to torture.
“As always, they ordered her not to ever again associate with NUP, else she’d face dire consequences,” Rubongoya stated.
He condemned what he described as continuing lawlessness and impunity by security agencies and praised lawyers and party members who pushed for her release.
The developments are likely to intensify scrutiny over allegations of illegal detention and enforced disappearances, issues that opposition groups and human rights activists have repeatedly raised against security agencies in Uganda.
Neither the UPDF nor other security agencies had publicly commented on Nazziwa’s reported release by press time.
