Tension surrounding Uganda’s presidential election period has taken a dramatic turn after National Unity Platform (NUP) Deputy President and human rights activists Lina Zedriga Waru Abuku allegedly claimed she was abducted by security forces from her home in Gayaza on 15 January 2026.
According to reports from her family, armed men dressed in black stormed Zedriga’s residence in a late-night raid, forcefully taking her away in what has been described as an unlawful arrest or abduction.
A video circulating online, narrated by a family member, shows two vehicles arriving at the residence at around 7:35 pm. Moments later, men in black uniforms are seen entering the house before escorting Zedriga out and driving off into the night.
The narrator in the footage identifies Zedriga as a human rights lawyer and senior opposition figure, expressing fear for her safety and demanding her immediate release.
“This is an abduction. We don’t know where she has been taken,” the family member says in the video, which has since sparked widespread outrage online.
Supporters and rights activists have launched a social media campaign under the hashtag #FreeZedriga, calling on authorities to account for her whereabouts and ensure her safety.
The alleged incident comes amid an already charged political climate following the disputed presidential election, further raising concerns over human rights, political repression, and the safety of opposition figures.
As pressure mounts both locally and internationally, many are demanding answers for her whereabouts and security is yet to release official statement about the matter.