By Alex Baluku
Kampala, Uganda – Authorities in Uganda have launched a nationwide manhunt for Izake Baluku, a known opposition political activist, after he made a dramatic escape from police custody. Baluku, a grassroots political mobilizer and a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), fled from a medical facility where he had been admitted following reported torture while in detention.
Izake was arrested on May 14, 2024, in Kampala by plain clothed security operatives. According to sources, his arrest was linked to his role in designing and distributing National Unity Platform campaign materials, which the Ugandan government has banned, branding them as security attire. His involvement in mobilizing support for the opposition party, led by Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), had put him under the authorities’ radar.
Following his arrest, Baluku was reportedly subjected to severe beatings and torture at an undisclosed location. His injuries were so severe that he lost consciousness, prompting his captors to admit him to a medical clinic.
However, under the tight watch of security officers, Baluku made a daring escape in the early hours of May 17, 2024. Reports indicate that he took advantage of a moment when his guard fell asleep, sneaking out through a washroom window, and stopped a moving motorcycle (boda boda), which whisked him away to safety.
This was not the first time Baluku had been targeted by security forces. Since 2020, he has been arrested multiple times due to his activism. In January 2021, he was detained without trial following the controversial general elections, only to be released without explanation after days in custody.
His involvement in mobilizing youth for the opposition in Kasese had made him a prime target for security agencies, leading him to flee to different locations over the years in a bid to evade persecution.
Following news of his escape, Baluku’s family is now living in constant fear. His wife, Gorret Mbambu, expressed deep concern over his safety, stating that they have had no communication with him since his disappearance. “We don’t know where he is, and we are extremely worried. The government has been after him for years, and now that he is on the run, we fear the worst,” she said.
His father, Epimako Kadolo, who had previously fled into exile following the 2016 Kasese clashes, described the situation as a nightmare for the family. “They have been hunting him like an animal. We have already lost two family members in the past, and now we don’t know if he will ever be safe again,” Kadolo said, referring to the tragic loss of his daughter Biira Birungi Joy and another family member, who were killed during the 2016 Kasese palace raid.
The Ugandan government has remained tight-lipped about Baluku’s case, with police only confirming that efforts are underway to recapture him. However, opposition leaders have condemned the relentless persecution of their supporters.
Joel Senyonyi, NUP Spokesperson stated that Baluku’s escape highlights the extreme measures the government is taking to silence dissent. “The regime continues to violate human rights, arresting and torturing our supporters. This must stop,” the spokesperson said.
Baluku’s case echoes that of Latif Madoi, a prominent Ugandan designer who was arrested on 13 May 2024, at his fashion academy in Kampala. Police officers detained Madoi, along with four of his students, and seized several sewing machines and garments.
His offense? Prosecutors charged Madoi with possessing “uniforms declared to be for the exclusive use” of the military and police, in violation of Ugandan law. Madoi, known for designing clothes for opposition leader Bobi Wine, including his signature red overalls, was accused of creating illegal garments.
In light of the ongoing arrests of NUP supporters who wear the party’s attire, as well as those who design and provide these materials, National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, has strongly criticized the security forces for what he deems as indiscriminate and unwarranted arrests.
Kyagulanyi condemned the crackdown, which targets not only his supporters who wear the party’s iconic red berets and overalls but also those who provide services such as designing and manufacturing these garments. The NUP leader called the actions a clear violation of civil liberties and freedom of expression. He emphasized that these individuals, who simply express their political beliefs through clothing, should not be subjected to harassment or imprisonment.
Bobi Wine argued that the government’s move to target these supporters and their service providers is part of a broader strategy to silence dissent and suppress the opposition. “The regime continues to trample on the basic rights of Ugandans who are simply exercising their right to support a political cause. Arresting our people for wearing or making clothes is a dangerous precedent that must be stopped,” Kyagulanyi said.https://nilepost.co.ug/news/201042/arrested-tailors-nup-president-condemns-security-agencies
