news 4 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Family Petitions High Court to Produce Detained UPDF Captain After 15 Months
The family of UPDF Captain Amis Ainebyona has filed a habeas corpus application in the High Court, demanding the military produce him after over 15 months in detention without trial. The UPDF defends the administrative detention as part of internal disciplinary procedures. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/family-seeks-court-order-to-produce-detained-updf-soldier--5446310
The family of Capt Amis Ainebyona, a Uganda People’s Defence Forces officer, has turned to the High Court for help. They claim he has been detained since September 2024 without charges or a court appearance, causing deep distress.
Through Joseph Ddungu Ssempijja, Ainebyona’s father-in-law, they filed a habeas corpus petition. It targets the Attorney General, Chief of Defence Forces, Defence Intelligence and Security, and UPDF Military Police Commandant to produce the captain and explain his detention.
Lawyer Brain Moogi argues the detention violates constitutional rights to liberty. He insists UPDF’s fully constituted Courts Martial should handle any disciplinary issues, not indefinite holding under ‘administrative detention,’ which he says lacks legal basis in Uganda.
The UPDF opposes the petition. Lt Col Edgar Musasizi’s affidavit states Ainebyona is safely under administrative detention for internal matters, per military law. The army claims the family knows his location and that civilian courts lack jurisdiction over UPDF discipline.
Moogi counters that constitutional protections apply to soldiers too, and habeas corpus covers any illegal detention.
Justice Bernard Namanya will rule on May 15 via email.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)