In an interview with URN, Mureebi, who had just received medical treatment at a nearby clinic, reported still experiencing pain in his legs, back, and head due to the beating he endured while in the van and during his detention in an unknown location.
Sheikh Abdul Hakeem Sulaiman Mureebi, a 50-year-old resident of Nabweru Division in Nansana Municipality, is nursing injuries after he was allegedly beaten by security operatives following his arrest outside Nakawa Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Chaos erupted shortly after the court session of opposition figure Dr. Col. Kiiza Besigye, whose case was adjourned to May 29, 2025, by Grade One Magistrate Jonathan Tiyo. As hundreds exited the courtroom, plainclothes men descended on the crowd, bundling Mureebi and Kira Municipality councilor Katongole into a van widely known as “the drone.”
Mureebi, a vocal supporter of the Justice Forum (JEMA), had attended the court hearing in solidarity with his longtime friend Besigye when he was abruptly picked up around midday. Speaking to URN after receiving treatment at a nearby clinic, Mureebi recounted the ordeal with visible pain and emotion.
“I was wrongly arrested and beaten in the van and in an unknown house,” he said. “They accused us of participating in the courtroom chaos and punching an army officer, but I kept telling them I wasn't there when it happened, and they wouldn't listen.”
According to Mureebi, the officers confiscated all his personal belongings, including phones and documents, subjected him to a thorough search, and interrogated him about his political affiliations.
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He added that at about 5:00 p.m., he and Katongole were driven to Mbuya and dumped without explanation. From there, he managed to find his way back home. “I'm a man with three wives and 12 children who needs to tend to my daily responsibilities,” Mureebi said.
But I'm currently stuck at home in pain. I've received treatment, but the pain persists. I wouldn't say I'm seeking justice, as I'm still unaware of who arrested and tortured me. All I know is that I was wrongly accused and arrested for something I didn’t do.” He has since called on security agencies to respect suspects' rights and follow lawful procedures.
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The incident has renewed concern over the use of "drone" vans, which have gained notoriety in recent years for whisking away government critics and opposition supporters to undisclosed locations. Despite several court orders to end the practice, rights groups argue that the directives are routinely ignored. The Uganda Police had not yet commented on Mureebi’s arrest by the time of publishing this report.
Kamali. M James
Freelancer