The family of missing Baba Television journalist Eria Jengo has petitioned the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), seeking the commission’s intervention to establish his whereabouts and ensure his safety.
Jengo, who reported extensively on security and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) activities, went missing on September 10 after leaving the Baba TV offices around midday reportedly to get food.
According to eyewitness accounts shared with the television station, Jengo was confronted by three people, two men and a woman, who were dressed in civilian clothes and allegedly forced him into a Toyota Noah.
The vehicle, which was reportedly accompanied by a Toyota Premio, was seen driving towards Kisaasi Road shortly after Jengo was taken.
His disappearance was reported at Old Kira Road Police Station on September 12 under file reference 61/11/09/026.
However, his family and colleagues say they have yet to receive clear information from police about who took the journalist or where he could be.
On Wednesday, Jengo’s family, together with representatives of Baba TV and the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA), delivered a petition to the UHRC at its headquarters at JEROS House in Naguru, Kampala.
Speaking to journalists after submitting the petition, Teddy Catherine, Jengo’s partner and a fellow employee at Baba TV, broke down as she described the uncertainty surrounding his disappearance.
Catherine said she has been under increasing pressure from relatives, friends and colleagues seeking updates about Jengo, yet she has no information to share.
She said Jengo left their home at about 6 a.m. on September 10, telling her that he had a busy day ahead. She said he did not contact her throughout the day, something she considered unusual.
According to Catherine, the two normally leave work together, but when she went to the newsroom later in the day, she was informed that Jengo had left the office earlier without telling colleagues where he was going.
She said he had left his phones behind and never returned to the station.
Catherine said she waited until about 11 p.m. before checking the last communications on one of the phones Jengo had left behind. She then contacted the last person he had spoken to, who told her they had only had a brief personal conversation that morning.
She eventually left the office alone, hoping Jengo would return home, but he did not.
The following morning, she returned to the station, where colleagues agreed that the matter should be reported to police.
Catherine expressed disappointment with the pace of the investigation, saying the family had asked police to examine CCTV footage along the route where Jengo was allegedly taken and trace communications involving people he had contacted before his disappearance.
She also said she fears for her own safety, worrying that those responsible for Jengo’s disappearance could target her.
Jengo’s mother, Catherine Nalubanjwa, said the news of her son’s disappearance severely affected her health, causing her blood pressure to rise and forcing her to seek treatment in Nakaseke.
She later travelled to Kampala after stabilising to join the search for her son.
“My situation as a parent is not good at all,” Nalubanjwa said. “I request this government to bring back my son, wherever he is. I am on my knees appealing to security and the Human Rights Commission to look for my son and bring him back, whether alive or dead.”
Saka Coperiano, Jengo’s uncle, said the family had been moving from one government office to another in search of assistance since the journalist disappeared.
He appealed to security agencies to establish Jengo’s whereabouts and return him to his family.
Receiving the petition on behalf of the UHRC, Docus Musimenta, the Principal Human Rights Officer in charge of the Directorate of Complaints, Investigations and Legal Services, said the commission would study the petition before determining the appropriate action.
Musimenta said the commission would meet as a team to analyse the concerns raised and conduct investigations before responding to the petitioners.
Jengo’s disappearance comes amid continued concerns over reports of people being picked up by unidentified security operatives, with some later appearing in court while others remain unaccounted for for extended periods.
By press time, police had not publicly provided details on the progress of investigations into Jengo’s disappearance or confirmed his current whereabouts.
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