Security agencies in Uganda have intensified a country manhunt for opposition activist
Esther Makumbi following a warrant of arrest issued on March 18, 2026 in a rapidly
escalating case now linked to a broader security investigation.
Makumbi affiliated with the National Unity Platform (NUP) is now being treated as a
high priority target with authorities describing her failure to return after police bond as
deliberate evasion. She was arrested on November 24, 2025 after a political rally in
Kampala and released two days later, but never reported back as required.
Her disappearance has since triggered an aggressive search effort with the case
expanding into networks associated with Waiswa Mufumbiro. According to reliable
security sources Makumbi is now viewed as a central figure potentially a senior
accomplice within that network significantly elevating her importance in the
investigation.
Those same sources indicate that current operational focus has shifted heavily toward
Makumbi with some suggesting that locating her has become a higher priority than even
Waiswa Mufumbiro himself due to what authorities believe is her deeper operational
knowledge and influence within the network.
The case has been further overshadowed by reports that Mufumbiro’s wife died while
her husband is in custody after being denied bail to go take look after his wife a
development that has intensified scrutiny and raised tensions around the investigation.
Makumbi’s whereabouts remain unknown and officials believe she is actively evading
capture. With a standing arrest warrant and increased coordination among security
units she is now regarded as one of the most urgently wanted individuals as authorities
continue to prioritise her arrest above all others linked to the case.
Anyone with information about her whereabouts is urged to contact the nearest police station or relevant authorities.
