Concern is mounting over the whereabouts of journalist and photographer Andrew Natumanya, popularly known as Tabz, after opposition leaders and activists alleged that he was abducted by security operatives on Wednesday evening.
Tabz, who is widely known for documenting the activities of National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, was reportedly picked up from Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb.
NUP spokesperson and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi said Natumanya was taken by unidentified security operatives travelling in what is commonly referred to as a “drone” vehicle.
“The senseless abductions continue. Tabz has been taken by a drone from Kamwokya,” Ssenyonyi said.
Journalist and human rights activist Agather Atuhaire also condemned the reported abduction and called for Natumanya’s immediate release.
“So today is Tabz. We will be singing and lamenting ‘free someone’ every day. But yeah, #FreeTabz,” Atuhaire wrote on social media.
Agora Discourse, a civic platform that advocates for human rights and social justice, also expressed concern over the incident.
“We are receiving news about the abduction of Natumanya Andrew, commonly known as @NinyeTabz. #FreeAndrewNatumanya,” the organisation posted.
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya described the incident as another example of what he termed growing lawlessness and the continued targeting of government critics.
“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,” Rubongoya said.
Natumanya has built a strong online following, particularly on X, where he frequently comments on governance and political issues. He recently gained attention for providing real-time updates during security searches conducted at properties linked to former Speaker Anita Among.
While some of the information he shared was later confirmed, other claims remained contested, attracting both praise and criticism online.
A day before his reported disappearance, Natumanya commented on the arrest of former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, alleging that Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba had been advised by Gen. Salim Saleh to hand Lukwago over to police.
Beyond political commentary, Natumanya is also known for assisting victims of theft to trace and recover stolen vehicles and electronic devices using technological tools.
During the 2021 presidential campaign, he was regularly seen documenting activities involving Bobi Wine through photography and video coverage.
His social media activities have occasionally drawn controversy, including recent public disagreements with several public figures, among them State Minister for Local Government Justine Nameere.
By press time, Natumanya’s whereabouts remained unknown, and neither the police nor other security agencies had issued an official statement regarding the allegations surrounding his disappearance.
