A bodyguard for Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has been charged with aggravated and simple robbery amid growing outrage over allegations of torture and illegal detention by state security forces. The bodyguard, Edward Sebuufu commonly known as Eddie Mutwe was paraded in court on Monday, days after being held incommunicado by the Ugandan military.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni and head of the military, admitted last week to detaining Sebuufu, five days after his disappearance. In a now-deleted social media post, Gen Muhoozi revealed chilling details, including that the bodyguard had been shaved and faced potential castration.
Sebuufu’s lawyer, Magellan Kazibwe, told local media that his client had been severely tortured during detention. “He was beaten using wires of electricity, electrocuted, and his private parts were squeezed,” Kazibwe stated. “He is in great pain and needs urgent medical attention.” The legal team is planning to transfer Sebuufu to a hospital for treatment.
Rights groups and civil society organisations have condemned the arrest, calling it part of a broader campaign to stifle political opposition ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections. President Museveni, who has ruled since 1986, is expected to face a strong challenge from Bobi Wine, the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Video footage of Sebuufu’s court appearance showed him barefoot and barely able to walk, with security personnel attempting to block journalists from recording his condition. The Uganda Human Rights Commission has since called for his immediate release, and international human rights observers are monitoring the case closely.
Despite the backlash, the Ugandan government maintains that opposition figures often provoke unrest by organizing unauthorized rallies. Sebuufu’s charges stem from an alleged robbery in Lwengo District, though no substantial evidence has been made public.
The incident has sparked fresh fears of escalating repression as Uganda approaches a highly anticipated election, with critics accusing the government of using state machinery to intimidate and silence dissenting voices.
