A Makerere University student is missing for 11 days now after he disappeared from his hall of residence, guild leaders at Uganda’s largest and oldest higher learning institution have said.
The missing student has been identified as Freedom Arinda, a first year student pursuing a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (Chuss).
In a letter to students, which was copied to the dean of students, the Makerere University minister of students’ affairs Owen Nasasira, Arinda went missing on April 21 and his roommates in Nsibirwa Hall cannot trace him.
“It’s with profound sadness that I announce the missing student in the name of ARINDA FREEDOM, a year one student at the college of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), REG NO.25/1/1090/EXT doing BASS,” wrote Nasasira.
“His whereabouts have not been clear according to his roommates in Nsibirwa Hall since last week on Tuesday, 21st of April 2026. Any information leading to his current whereabouts is highly welcomed.”
Makerere University guild president Gracious Kadondi has blasted police and the university’s authorities for not doing enough to search for Freedom Arinda. Kadondi has called on the Uganda Police Force (UPF) and the university authorities to follow the matter up.
“11 days since Arinda Freedom disappeared from Nsibirwa Hall. No police update. No serious search from the University. Is this how we protect students?” asked Kadondi.
“We demand that Police and Makerere take this seriously before it’s too late.”
It is not clear if Freedom Arinda was kidnapped or disappeared by himself. But cases of politically motivated kidnappings have been common in recent years in Uganda’s charged political space. Members of the main opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) have borne the brunt of reported state kidnappings by agents driving ‘drones.’
