Missing Tinderet Politician Reappears in Uganda as Court Seeks Answers on Alleged Abduction
Pressure continues to rise as the investigation is ongoing to find out really what happened during the disappearance of the politician, and if this was part of a broader trend of cross-border incidents.
Tinderet parliamentary seat aspirant Shadrack Maritim. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Tinderet parliamentary aspirant Shadrack Maritim, who disappeared after setting out for a routine morning jog, has been found alive in Mbale, Uganda, bringing temporary relief to his worried family but raising even more questions over the circumstances of his disappearance. His resurfacing comes amid earlier claims linking his alleged abduction to National Police Service Commission Chief Executive Officer Peter Leley, whom the family accuses of issuing threats against him.
According to the relatives, Maritim and Leley had previously clashed, with the NPSC boss said to have sent a WhatsApp message threatening the politician that he would “show him hajui” if he continued to criticize him. The family is adamant that the threats were real and may be linked to the disappearance.
After days of distress and uncertainty, the family filed a formal petition last week, calling on authorities to account for what they described as an “abduction.” Their concerns were further amplified when Maritim missed scheduled engagements and remained unreachable for days.
The High Court was informed of the new developments on Wednesday after Maritim’s relatives said he had contacted them late Tuesday night. He is said to have told the family that his abductors dropped him somewhere near Mbale. The lawyer for the family, Kibe Mungai, said Maritim sounded visibly shaken during the conversation with his brother, implying that he had a frightening experience.
Meanwhile, the matter was set to be mentioned on December 10, 2025, with the judge making it clear that he needed a comprehensive update on the situation. The court also ordered lawyer Mungai to file a detailed affidavit explaining what transpired regarding Maritim’s disappearance and alleged abduction.
Mungai maintained that the legal petition is still alive, adding that Maritim’s re-emergence does not invalidate the requirement for a complete investigation. “The petition is not going to be withdrawn simply because he has resurfaced. We intend to pursue the truth to the very end,” he said.
The Attorney General’s office, while acknowledging the government was obligated to get to the bottom of what happened, contended that the petition has largely been overtaken by events now that Maritim has been found. The family’s legal team disagreed, citing broader implications.
Mungai pointed to a trend he said was perturbing, where missing Kenyans show up near Uganda’s border just before court hearings on habeas corpus petitions. “This pattern cannot be ignored. His return does not close the matter,” he added. Maritim was reported missing on October 27 from his home in Unity Gardens Estate, Eldoret. His family insists that they suspect foul play and link this suspicion to alleged threats issued against them by CEO Leley in 2023. Pressure continues to rise as the investigation is ongoing to find out really what happened during the disappearance of the politician, and if this was part of a broader trend of cross-border incidents.
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