Police in Kampala have launched an investigation into the disappearance of 60-year-old Musinguzi Geoffrey, who was last seen at Mulago National Referral Hospital before vanishing without a trace.
The case is being handled by officers attached to Uganda Police Force at Wandegeya Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the area surrounding the hospital. Family members say Musinguzi suffers from memory problems, raising fears that he may be disoriented and unable to find his way home.
According to relatives, Musinguzi had been at Mulago Hospital prior to his disappearance. It remains unclear whether he was receiving treatment, visiting someone, or attending a scheduled appointment. What is known is that he was seen within the hospital premises before contact was lost.
Police sources indicate that initial steps in the investigation include reviewing hospital security logs, interviewing staff and witnesses, and examining available CCTV footage within and around the hospital complex. Authorities are also said to be tracing any possible mobile phone activity linked to the missing man.
As of publication, no official public statement detailing the progress of the investigation has been issued by Kampala Metropolitan Police.
Medical experts say individuals living with memory impairment face heightened risks when separated from caregivers or familiar environments. Disorientation can set in quickly, especially in high-traffic areas such as Mulago, one of East Africa’s busiest public hospitals.
Family members describe Musinguzi as soft-spoken and physically mobile, but increasingly forgetful in recent months. They fear that if he wandered beyond the hospital grounds, he could be exposed to traffic dangers, exploitation, or medical complications. “We are deeply worried. He may not even remember his own phone number,” a relative said.
The disappearance has also sparked broader concerns about public safety protocols in major government institutions. Mulago Hospital handles thousands of patients and visitors daily, and its location in the densely populated Wandegeya area means constant movement of vehicles, boda bodas, and pedestrians.
Security analysts note that such high-traffic environments require coordinated surveillance systems, rapid alert mechanisms, and efficient inter-agency communication.
Key questions remain:
- Were security personnel alerted immediately after the disappearance?
- How quickly was CCTV footage secured?
- Are there coordinated missing-person response procedures between hospitals and police?
Civil society advocates argue that vulnerable adults, particularly the elderly and those with cognitive challenges, require stronger safeguarding frameworks within public facilities.
While most missing-person cases in Uganda are eventually resolved, human-rights organizations have previously raised concerns over delays in investigations and communication gaps between police and families. In urban centers like Kampala, where informal transport networks and crowded neighbourhoods complicate tracking, time is often the most critical factor.
The Uganda Police Force typically advises families to report disappearances immediately, emphasizing that the first 24 hours are crucial in tracing missing individuals.
Police are urging anyone who may have seen Musinguzi Geoffrey in or around Mulago, Wandegeya, or neighbouring areas to report to the nearest police station. Authorities are also reviewing potential leads beyond Kampala in case he boarded public transport unknowingly.
Family members continue to search hospitals, police posts, and community centers in hopes of locating him.
