A top Kampala based Journalist and founder of an online news site The Investigator, Stanley Ndawula has reportedly been kidnapped by people believed to be ISO operatives.
According to eye witnesses, no reason was given for the arrest.
Ndawula is said to have been at ‘Yaya’ lounge on Bukoto Street when he was cornered and bundled into a Toyota Hilux.
The Online Media Publishers Association (OMPA), has issued a statement condemning “the arrest and or kidnap, yet again of Stanley Ndawula, our member and proprietor of The Investigator- an online publication.”
“Although it is not yet clear who his captors are, witness accounts suggest, he was abducted by what appears to be state agents. Given the unprofessional nature of his arrest, both the reasons for his abduction and his whereabouts remain unknown,” the statement issued Saturday reads.
“We reiterate our condemnation of the recurrent nature of panda garism being occasioned by state agents on Ugandan citizens and demand that if indeed the state has any legitimate case against Mr. Ndawula, he be produced before competent courts of law,” the association demands.
Mr Robert Ssempala, the national coordinator of Human Rights Network for Journalists Uganda said: “The CEO of the Investigator, Ndawula Stanley was last night kidnapped by unknown people at around midnight as he left a joint in Bukoto, Kampala. It is alleged he was arrested by ISO operatives. It’s not known why he was arrested. His whereabouts remain unknown. Stanley has for a long time been involved in investigative reporting into crimes committed within the police force. Journalists, friends and family members are in a search for his whereabouts.”