A new video has cast serious doubt on a recent abduction claim made by National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, involving one of the party’s supporters, Ssetuba Derrick.
On August 10, 2025, Bobi Wine took to his official X account, alleging that Ssetuba had been violently abducted by state security operatives near Lugogo in Kampala that very morning. The post sparked outrage among NUP supporters and trended widely under hashtags related to enforced disappearances.
However, a video that has since surfaced online features an unnamed woman, believed to be a Kampala-based businesswoman, refuting the abduction claims.
In the video, she asserts that Ssetuba was not abducted, but is in her custody over an unresolved debt.
A video featuring a woman exposes Bobi Wine’s false claims about the alleged abduction of Ssetuba Derrick.
“I am the one who caused the arrest of Ssetuba Derrick. He lied to me that he could supply drums for my business. I gave him UGX 8,480,000, and he vanished in March, 2025. I only started hearing of his supposed ‘abduction’ through NUP social media. This is theft, not a political issue,” the woman said in the video.
The woman claims Ssetuba exploited her trust and disappeared with the money. She says she only came forward publicly after seeing Bobi Wine’s post claiming Ssetuba was a victim of state violence.
“No one from the government took him. The government is not involved. It’s me demanding my money,” she insisted.
A source within local police told the media that no official complaint of Ssetuba’s abduction had been filed with police by family or NUP officials.
“We have not received any report from NUP, the victim’s family, or the alleged witness about the abduction. Claims shared online without proper reporting procedures cannot be taken at face value,” the officer said.
This isn’t the first time the Bobi Wine and his National Unity Platform (NUP) has alleged that its members were abducted by security forces. Over the past two years, the party has reported numerous such cases, many of which were unverified. In some instances, insiders suggest that the party itself may have staged these incidents, falsely attributing them to security agencies.”
However, in this case, the woman’s testimony raises questions about whether the party leadership is verifying facts before going public with abduction claims.
“It’s dangerous for a national leader to issue such explosive claims without checking facts. It spreads panic and can damage the credibility of genuine cases,” political analyst Sarah Acom, from the Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Kampala said.
As of publication time, Bobi Wine and NUP officials had not retracted or clarified the abduction post. The party’s communications team has also remained silent on the circulating video.
The incident has stirred public debate, with many Ugandans demanding greater responsibility from political leaders, especially during the sensitive pre-election period.
“If this was a case of fraud, let the law take its course. But if it was politicized to blame the government falsely, then NUP owes the public an apology,” James Bukenya, a civil rights activist in Kampala said.
The video evidence has dealt a serious blow to the narrative of Ssetuba’s alleged abduction. What was initially painted as a case of state repression is now being revealed as a private financial dispute turned political.
This case serves as a reminder of the need for due diligence, especially when sensitive issues like human rights violations are involved.
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