Phaneroo Ministries lead pastor Grace Lubega has openly challenged the leadership of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) over growing public concerns surrounding alleged abductions, illegal arrests and the detention of Ugandan citizens in undisclosed security facilities.
In remarks that could complicate the relationship between religious leaders and the political-military pressure group, Lubega warned that the continued reports of people being picked up by security operatives and held in unidentified locations have created a serious moral crisis for church leaders who publicly associate themselves with the organisation.
The pastor made the remarks on Friday, November 6, 2026, during a breakfast engagement that brought together Born-again church leaders and senior PLU officials at Serena Kigo Hotel.
The meeting, which was intended to strengthen engagement between the religious community and PLU, instead provided a platform for uncomfortable questions about the country’s human rights situation.
Lubega reportedly described the situation as a major moral concern, pointing to allegations that security personnel use unmarked drone vehicles to pick up individuals from streets and other public places before transferring them to facilities commonly referred to as safe houses.
He questioned how pastors are expected to continue defending or explaining their association with organisations whose activities are increasingly being linked in public discussions to allegations of forced disappearances and unlawful detention.
According to Lubega, church leaders are not insulated from the suffering of ordinary Ugandans. They are regularly approached by concerned congregants, relatives and friends seeking answers about people who have allegedly disappeared after being picked up by security operatives.
He particularly highlighted the difficult position of pastors whose own church members, or relatives of their members, have reportedly been affected by such incidents. This, he suggested, creates a painful contradiction between the church’s responsibility to defend human dignity and its public relationships with powerful political and security establishments.
The pastor’s intervention comes against the backdrop of heightened public attention surrounding the legal troubles of human rights activist Praise Aloikin Opoloje in September 2026.
The situation attracted further attention following the reported disappearance of law student Louis Ninsiima on November 1, 2026. Ninsiima was reportedly a friend of Opoloje, with both individuals having connections to Phaneroo Ministries.
These developments have placed additional pressure on religious leaders to explain their positions on security-related human rights concerns, particularly when allegations involve people within their wider church communities.
Lubega’s remarks also raise broader questions about the responsibility of religious institutions when engaging with political organisations. While churches may participate in national dialogue and maintain relationships with political leaders, their moral authority can be challenged when they appear silent on allegations of injustice affecting ordinary citizens.
His intervention represents an uncomfortable message to PLU leadership: political relationships should not come at the expense of speaking out when citizens raise concerns about their safety, freedom and constitutional rights.
For many Ugandans, the controversy surrounding alleged abductions and secret detention facilities remains a sensitive national issue. The public continues to demand transparency, accountability and clear explanations from the relevant authorities whenever individuals are reported missing after encounters with security personnel.
Lubega’s challenge therefore places the spotlight on whether PLU leaders are prepared to address these concerns directly and provide credible answers to religious leaders and the wider public.
