NUP Activist, Bobi Wine Photographer Ninye Taz Reportedly Abducted in Kampala

Security operatives have reportedly detained a prominent opposition activist and photographer linked to National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, according to party officials.

Andrew Nabimanya, widely known as NinyeTabz, was allegedly taken from the Kampala suburb of Kamwokya on Wednesday evening by plain-clothed operatives travelling in Toyota vans commonly referred to as “drones”, NUP leaders said.

The party’s Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya, condemned the incident, describing it as part of a continuing pattern of politically motivated arrests.

“We’ve just been informed of the abduction of NinyeTabz from Kamwokya a short while ago. He has been whisked away in a drone. The lawlessness continues!” Mr Rubongoya said.

The reported detention comes amid growing concerns from opposition groups over what they describe as a resurgence of enforced disappearances and arrests targeting government critics ahead of the 2026 elections.

The incident follows the recent arrest of former Kampala Lord Mayor and opposition politician Erias Lukwago, who was detained earlier this week before being charged with misprision of treason and remanded to prison.

Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi also criticised the latest development.

“The senseless abductions continue. Tabz NinyeTabz has been taken by a drone from Kamwokya!” Mr Ssenyonyi said.

Nabimanya is well known within opposition circles as a photojournalist and activist. He has previously used social media to highlight alleged corruption, particularly within the Ministry of Works and Transport, and recently became involved in a public dispute with State Minister for Local Government Justine Nameere.

NUP maintains that thousands of its supporters have been arrested or detained on politically related charges in recent years. The party argues that such incidents have increased as the country moves closer to the next general election.

Security agencies, however, have consistently rejected allegations of abductions, insisting that individuals in custody are lawfully arrested and detained in connection with criminal or security-related investigations.

By Thursday, authorities had not publicly commented on Nabimanya’s reported arrest or disclosed his whereabouts.