NUP Leader Bobi, SG Rubongoya In Hot Water After Kidnap Allegations By Kibalama Faction

The top leaders of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya and President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, commonly known as Bobi Wine, find themselves embroiled in a serious legal controversy.

Paul Ssimbwa Kagombe, the former party secretary general of the party which birthed NUP has petitioned the Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate allegations of kidnapping involving NUP’s founding president, Nkonge Moses Kibalama.

In a petition dated September 15 2025 which was officially received by CIID Metropolitan, Kagombe accused Rubongoya and others of orchestrating the alleged abduction of Kibalama, who has been battling severe health issues for a couple of months.

According to Kagombe, the incident occurred on September 12, 2025, at the NUP offices in Kavule from where the frail Kibalama was forcibly taken and pressured to sign unknown documents against his will.

Perplexed by the actions, Kagombe formally lodged his complaint with the CID, stating, “I hereby lodge in my complaint to your office about the kidnap of my uncle Mr. Nkonge Moses Kibalama and forcing him to sign unknown documents against his will under duress by a group of people including; …Rubongoya David Lewis, and others on 12th September, 2025, at Kavule National Unity Platform (NUP) offices.”

In his appeal for justice, Kagombe stated, “I therefore, humbly request your office to investigate and establish the motive of these people and be brought to book for their actions.”

If the claims are substantiated, Rubongoya and his associates may face severe legal repercussions, raising concerns about the party’s image and credibility in Uganda’s political arena.

Kagombe’s complaint is not only about the alleged kidnapping but also addresses the subsequent publishing of Kibalama’s photos on social media without his consent.

On Sunday September 14, 2025, Bobi Wine posted on his X account regarding their meeting with the sickly Kibalama.

“Very pleased to have hosted mzee Moses Nkonge Kibalama at Magere this week. Glad to see that he’s steadily recovering from the illness that has bothered him for some time,” Bobi said, “We continue to support his recovery efforts despite the many attempts by the regime to use him against us and the people’s cause for freedom.”

Bobi’s statements suggest an effort to convey a narrative of concern and support for Kibalama, reflecting the party’s ongoing struggle to put up a sympathetic face for Kibalama.

Yet, the context of his claims raises questions about the politeness of their treatment of Kibalama, especially given the serious relationship strains between the alleged actions and the reality as claimed by Kibalama, that the party leaders have never spent not even a penny in taking care of him in any form.

This raises serious ethical concerns about the treatment of individuals within the party, particularly those who may be vulnerable due to health conditions, and the implications of kidnapping, which involves unlawfully seizing and carrying away a person, and the act of coercing someone to sign documents under duress, illustrate the gravity of the allegations against Rubongoya and his associates.

As the CID begins its investigation into these serious allegations, the future of NUP leadership hangs in the balance. The CID’s response and findings will undoubtedly play a critical role in determining the next steps for NUP and its leadership.