The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Amuria District Woman MP Maggie Etilu has deepened after both the police and the army denied holding the legislator in their custody.
Etilu has not been seen in public since May 23, when she was reportedly picked up by security operatives in Nakasero, Kampala, shortly after visiting the residence of former speaker of parliament Anita Annet Among, who’s currently under corruption probe.
The legislator’s disappearance has triggered growing concern among political leaders, family members and residents across the Teso sub-region, with calls mounting for security agencies to disclose her whereabouts.
On Tuesday, several politicians from Teso alleged that the first-term legislator was being detained by the Special Forces Command (SFC). Soroti East MP Moses Attan claimed that Etilu was being held at a military facility under government custody.
“She is with the Government of Uganda, detained by the SFC at Kasenyi,” Attan wrote on social media.
Attan further stated that individuals who had reportedly seen the MP informed him that she was in good health and being held in a home-like environment while undergoing interrogation.
According to him, members of the Teso Parliamentary Group (TPG) had agreed to pursue behind-the-scenes engagements aimed at securing her release. However, the SFC swiftly dismissed the allegations.
Responding to inquiries from our reporter, SFC spokesperson Maj Denis Omara said there was no basis for the elite military unit to detain the legislator.
“No, there’s no offence linking her to SFC, and so there’s no reason to incarcerate her. I request that you inquire from the police,” Omara said in a text message.
Some senior leaders in Teso who said they were privy to information regarding the ongoing investigations maintained that the MP was being held by security agencies but declined to provide further details, citing the sensitivity of the matter.
Meanwhile, police say they are yet to establish whether Etilu is under arrest and, if so, where she is being held. Speaking during the weekly police press briefing on Monday, police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma said he needed time to verify the reports before commenting conclusively.
“I need to know if she’s under arrest, in which police station, and the charges,” Kituuma said when asked about Etilu’s whereabouts.
His remarks have done little to ease concerns among political leaders and members of the public, many of whom continue to demand answers regarding the legislator’s disappearance.
Among the most vocal critics is former Serere District Woman MP Alice Alaso Asianut, who questioned the silence of public institutions and political leaders over the matter.
“I ask with a very heavy heart, where is Hon. Etilu Margaret?” Alaso wrote in a statement shared on social media.
The disappearance has sparked widespread concern among constituents and fellow legislators, with growing calls for security agencies to either release Etilu or produce her before a competent court if she is facing any charges.