Rosette Namutebi: Netball star vanishes in UK, cites political persecution back home

The will-power to passionately support a given political group comes with opportunity costs, advantages and definitely risks.

Sports personality Rosette Namutebi had a bold calling in the Netball sport.

Prior to her escape to the United Kingdom, Namutebi was a loyal servant for KCCA Netball Club and the Uganda Netball national team, She Cranes.

Namutebi’s other life span dwelled upon active politics as she aligned to the main opposition political group in Uganda; the National Unity Platform (NUP).

Staying in Kamwokya, a suburb of the main capital, Kampala, Namutebi was a keen mobilizer of fellow youth in the political group and executed her tasks at hand aggressively without fear or favour.

Often, her family came under threat emanating from the bold fact that she openly supported the main opposition party NUP.

“On countless occasions, strange people (armed but in plain clothes) attempted to kidnap her. One time, they forced her into their car (without number plates) and as she tried to shout on top of the voice, she was questioned about the relationship with National Unity Platform (NUP) yet she was a player for the national netball team (She Cranes). They managed to let her go after torture and beatings. Since that time she lived in fear throughout and when the opportunity to escape the country arrived, she could not hesitate” Namutebi’s family member who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter recollected.

Namutebi is one among the hundreds of personalities on the other side of the road whom the ruling party is persecuting.

A number of people aligned to NUP have been arrested, battered, abducted and many have unfortunately lost their dear lives through unreported killings.

Most recently, arrests have been executed for two high profile youth activists Bobi Young and Moses Bukenya, among others.