Faith Nyasuguta
A Ugandan opposition activist, Eddie Mutwe, appeared in court showing signs of torture after allegedly being held captive and abused by Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni.
Mutwe, who is the chief bodyguard of opposition leader Bobi Wine, went missing on April 27 near the capital Kampala. His party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), reported he was seized by armed men.
Kainerugaba, known for his controversial online presence and seen as Museveni’s possible successor, later posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he had captured Mutwe “like a grasshopper,” adding that he was “using him as a punching bag.” He also said he had beaten Mutwe and shaved his head, implying he was subjected to abuse. “If they keep on provoking us, we shall discipline them even more,” Kainerugaba wrote, referring to the opposition.
Mutwe was presented in court this week and charged with robbery. However, his appearance raised alarm, with Uganda’s Justice Minister Norbert Mao confirming that Mutwe was “visibly weak” and showed “signs of having been tortured.” In a statement, Mao warned that presenting “illegally detained, brutalised and tortured suspects” in court was a clear abuse of the justice system.
Although Mao did not directly accuse Kainerugaba of the mistreatment, he urged the judiciary to address the matter swiftly. Mutwe’s lawyer, Magellan Kazibwe, claimed his client had been tortured daily, including being electrocuted while in detention.
The incident is the latest in a string of repressive actions targeting opposition figures as Uganda heads towards general elections in January. Bobi Wine, a popular former singer whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has become the most prominent challenger to President Museveni’s decades-long rule. Wine plans to launch a “protest vote” campaign, but his efforts are being met with intensified government crackdowns.
On Friday, Wine announced that security forces had raided and sealed off NUP’s headquarters. He condemned Mutwe’s abduction, calling it “a reminder to the world as to how law and order has broken down in Uganda.”
Kainerugaba, already controversial for previously tweeting threats against Wine, including a post saying he wanted to behead him, has continued to fuel political tensions through his social media activity.
The Uganda Law Society expressed outrage, calling Mutwe’s abduction part of a broader campaign to “silence dissent and crush the aspirations of young people yearning for freedom.” The Uganda Human Rights Commission also intervened, ordering authorities last week to release Mutwe.
Despite growing local and international pressure, President Museveni, who has ruled since 1986 and intends to seek re-election, continues to deny allegations of human rights violations.
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