The Lugbara Kari Cultural Institution has issued a strong appeal to the Ugandan government, demanding immediate clarification on the fate of Dr. Lina Zedriga Waru, the National Unity Platform (NUP) Deputy President for Northern Uganda, who has been missing since mid-January 2026.
In a press briefing held on Thursday, the institution’s Prime Minister, Ismail Tuku, expressed deep frustration over the prolonged disappearance. He emphasized that the situation has surpassed culturally acceptable periods for searching for a missing person. Tuku demanded to know if she is “dead or alive,” highlighting traditional Lugbara attributions for disappearances, which include drowning, wildfire, venomous snake bites, murder, or, for women, being married off.
The leadership voiced profound concern about a troubling pattern of disappearances involving individuals from the West Nile sub-region. Tuku linked Dr. Zedriga’s case to earlier unresolved cases, noting the growing anxiety within the community.
Leaders, including Minister for Lands and Environment Martha Tiko and Clerk to Council Jaffer Alekua, described the situation as causing “extreme pain” and “anxiety,” particularly among women. They questioned why, if Dr. Zedriga is alive, she has not been brought before a court, and if deceased, where her body is.
Dr. Zedriga reportedly vanished shortly after the January 15, 2026, general elections. Accounts indicate she was abducted from her home in Gayaza Kyetume on the evening of January 15 by armed men, some in military attire or plainclothes. Her whereabouts remain unknown.
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya led a team to file a habeas corpus application in the High Court, but the state responded with an affidavit denying any knowledge of her detention or location.
Security forces have repeatedly rejected involvement. Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke stated there is no information and she is not in police custody.
The Lugbara Kari’s intervention underscores cultural and communal pressure amid broader concerns over political abductions following the elections. Community leaders continue to call for her unconditional release or presentation in court to end the uncertainty gripping the region.
In a press briefing held on Thursday, the institution’s Prime Minister, Ismail Tuku, expressed deep frustration over the prolonged disappearance. He emphasized that the situation has surpassed culturally acceptable periods for searching for a missing person. Tuku demanded to know if she is “dead or alive,” highlighting traditional Lugbara attributions for disappearances, which include drowning, wildfire, venomous snake bites, murder, or, for women, being married off.
The leadership voiced profound concern about a troubling pattern of disappearances involving individuals from the West Nile sub-region. Tuku linked Dr. Zedriga’s case to earlier unresolved cases, noting the growing anxiety within the community.
Leaders, including Minister for Lands and Environment Martha Tiko and Clerk to Council Jaffer Alekua, described the situation as causing “extreme pain” and “anxiety,” particularly among women. They questioned why, if Dr. Zedriga is alive, she has not been brought before a court, and if deceased, where her body is.
Dr. Zedriga reportedly vanished shortly after the January 15, 2026, general elections. Accounts indicate she was abducted from her home in Gayaza Kyetume on the evening of January 15 by armed men, some in military attire or plainclothes. Her whereabouts remain unknown.
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya led a team to file a habeas corpus application in the High Court, but the state responded with an affidavit denying any knowledge of her detention or location.
Security forces have repeatedly rejected involvement. Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke stated there is no information and she is not in police custody.
The Lugbara Kari’s intervention underscores cultural and communal pressure amid broader concerns over political abductions following the elections. Community leaders continue to call for her unconditional release or presentation in court to end the uncertainty gripping the region.