The High Court in Kampala has ordered Uganda’s security agencies to produce a senior government adviser who has reportedly been missing for more than three months following allegations that he was unlawfully detained.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, Justice Joyce Kavuma issued a writ of habeas corpus directing security authorities to present Mr Duncan Keith Ayebare before court on June 2.
Ayebare, a technical adviser at Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports, has not been seen since February 13, 2026, according to court documents.
The order was issued against the Chief of Defence Forces, the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General following claims that Ayebare was abducted by armed men and has since been held incommunicado.
A writ of habeas corpus is a legal order requiring authorities to bring a detained individual before court and justify the legality of their detention.
Justice Kavuma’s ruling compels the named security agencies to either produce Ayebare in court or provide an explanation regarding his whereabouts and detention status.
The case has drawn attention from human rights advocates and legal observers amid concerns over allegations of enforced disappearances and unlawful detention in Uganda.
Ayebare’s family and supporters have reportedly been seeking answers since his disappearance, arguing that they have been unable to establish where he is being held or under what legal authority.
The court’s intervention marks a significant development in the case and places pressure on security agencies to account for the missing government official.
The matter is expected to return before the High Court on June 2, when authorities are required to comply with the order and provide clarity on Ayebare’s situation.
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