In a chilling escalation of political repression in Uganda, two young girls Breana and Briella Mukisa are now living as fugitives in their own country, victims of a brutal government crackdown aimed at silencing dissent.
Their only “crime”: being the daughters of Patrick Mukisa Nkugwa, the outspoken Speaker of Kasangati Town Council and a high-profile figure within the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP).
Multiple sources confirm the girls are in immediate and escalating danger following an attempted abduction by masked men in an unmarked vehicle commonly referred to as a “drone” and now infamous in Uganda for covert abductions and disappearances of regime critics.
According to eyewitnesses, the terrifying incident occurred outside the girls’ school recently.
Quick action by a school guard, who raised the alarm, prevented what could have been a tragic outcome. The masked operatives fled, but the implications were clear: the state is now targeting children of opposition politicians.
Since the incident, the girls have vanished from public view. No longer attending school or staying in one place for long, they are reportedly in hiding, even from extended family members, none of whom are willing to risk harboring them.
A relative of the girls, speaking on condition of anonymity, described an atmosphere climate of fear. “We love them, but we’re terrified. Everyone’s phones are tapped. Our homes are under surveillance. We don’t even know where Breana and Briella are anymore.”
That fear is not unfounded. Patrick Mukisa Nkugwa was subject to repeated arrest and assault due to his affiliation with NUP and its leader, Bobi Wine. Following credible threats to his life, Nkugwa reportedly fled Uganda and is now seeking asylum in Canada. In a disturbing turn, security forces appear to be using his children as bait.
The Reverend of All Saints’ Church in Kasangati confirmed being approached by suspected state agents seeking information on the children’s whereabouts. “They were not there to protect the girls,” he said, visibly distressed. “They were there to find them. And we all know what happens after that.”
Uganda’s security agencies have remained silent on the matter. No formal investigation has been announced. No official has addressed the targeting of minors—a blatant violation of international human rights laws, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Breana and Briella are now without access to school, healthcare, or basic psychological support. Their safety is in constant jeopardy as they move from place to place, pursued by forces with a documented history of torture and forced disappearances.
Human rights observers warn that the girls are at grave risk and must be evacuated immediately. “This is no longer about political affiliation,” said a spokesperson for a regional rights group. “This is about the state-sponsored persecution of children.”
The case of Breana and Briella Mukisa is not an isolated incident but a reflection of the growing climate of fear in Uganda. As more families of dissidents are targeted, human rights groups are calling for the international community, Canadian authorities, and global child protection organizations to act decisively.
“This is not politics anymore,” said one local activist. “This is a matter of life and death. And the clock is ticking.”
