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March 30, 2026 – Uganda –
Ugandan journalist Arnold Anthony Mukose was abducted in Kampala shortly after hosting a radio program, in an incident that has intensified alarm over the safety of journalists and the deteriorating climate for press freedom ahead of Uganda’s political transition and growing tensions around public criticism of the state.
Mukose, who is affiliated with DigiTalk Media, was reportedly seized on Sunday afternoon after appearing on a talk show discussing the Constitutional Court’s decision to nullify sections of Uganda’s Computer Misuse Act, a controversial law widely criticized for being used to suppress online expression and dissent. According to eyewitness accounts, unidentified plain-clothed men forced him into a grey Toyota Noah outside Metro FM 90.8 along Martin Road in Old Kampala and drove away. The abduction reportedly occurred shortly after 1 p.m., immediately after he left the station.
The case has drawn swift condemnation from Ugandan media and legal groups, which described the incident as an unlawful abduction and a direct assault on press freedom. The Uganda Journalists Association demanded Mukose’s immediate and unconditional release and called on security agencies to clarify his whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. Reports later indicated that individuals involved in the abduction may have identified themselves as security officers, raising fears of state involvement in the detention.
Subsequent reports suggested Mukose was later held at Old Kampala Police Station, while his home in Lukuli-Nanganda was allegedly searched and electronic devices, including phones and a laptop, were confiscated. At the time of reporting, no formal charges had been publicly confirmed. Rights advocates and lawyers said the incident fits into a wider pattern of intimidation, harassment, and arbitrary detention targeting journalists and critical voices in Uganda.
Mukose’s abduction has become the latest flashpoint in what press freedom advocates describe as a worsening crackdown on journalists in Uganda, particularly those covering politically sensitive issues. His case has renewed concern that journalists are increasingly being punished not for misconduct, but for hosting public debate and reporting on issues of clear public interest.
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