Normal Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Uganda’s president, has confirmed the detention of an opposition chief’s bodyguard, who has been lacking for 5 days.
Edward Sebuufu, alias Eddie Mutwe, was reportedly picked up on Sunday by unidentified people in each civilian garments and army fatigues within the central city of Kiwango, sparking public outrage.
In a sequence of posts on X, Gen Kainerugabai, who can be Uganda’s army chief, mentioned Mr Sebuufu was “in my basement”, attaching the bodyguard’s photograph with a clean-shaven head.
He additionally urged that Mr Sebuufu had been “disciplined”, elevating fears about his security.
Gen Kainerugabai’s remarks have sparked public anger with Ugandans utilizing the hashtag #FreeEddieMutwe to demand Mr Sebuufu’s launch and condemn his detention.
Gen Kainerugaba regularly makes political feedback on social media, which his critics say contravene the army’s code of self-discipline.
He has additionally made a sequence of various threats, which he hasn’t carried out.
The 51-year-old military common has a number of occasions pulled down his X account after posting controversial feedback earlier than later returning to the micro-blogging platform.
He’s seen as a attainable successor to his long-serving father, Yoweri Museveni, in energy since 1986, who has denied that he’s grooming his son for the presidency.
In 2022, he made headlines for discussing an invasion of neighbouring Kenya, a remark that compelled his father to step in and apologise.
He lately sparked anger with a tweet by which he threatened to behead opposition chief Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly often known as Bobi Wine.
Late on Thursday, he sparked one other social media storm after he printed a photograph of Mr Sebuufu, Bobi Wine’s bodyguard, showing half-naked and clear shaved.
Gen Kainerugaba additionally threatened to castrate Mr Sebuufu.
Bobi Wine mentioned Mr Sebuufu was on Sunday “violently kidnapped” from Kiwango by armed males travelling in a police van, popularly often known as “drone”, earlier than he was whisked to an unknown place.
In a sequence of posts, Gen Kainerugaba mentioned his troopers had captured Mr Sebuufu “favored a grasshopper” and he was studying Runyankore, a language spoken in western Uganda, whereas in custody.
He mentioned Mr Sebuufu was “trying very sensible nowadays” after his beard was shaved by “my boy”, referring to his junior troopers.
The final mentioned he would solely launch the bodyguard if ordered to take action by his father, President Museveni.
Gen Kainerugaba didn’t explicitly state the place Mr Sebuufu was being held, or on what authorized prices.
Safety forces are but to touch upon the matter however police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke on Monday instructed native media that he was not conscious of Mr Sebuufu being held in any police station.
Opposition officers and social media customers in Uganda have demanded the bodyguard be produced in court docket if he’s in lawful custody.
Bobi Wine has known as for a “solidarity” rally on Friday within the capital Kampala, accusing Gen Kainerugaba for “illegally holding, torturing, and dehumanizing” his bodyguard.
“This can be a non-partisan alternative to unite. Associates of Eddie and different Ugandans of excellent conscience, allow us to come collectively in solidarity not simply with Eddie however all political prisoners!,” Bobi Wine posted on X.
In a press release, the Uganda Regulation Society has known as for the speedy launch of the bodyguard, saying his ordeal was not an remoted case however “a part of a scientific marketing campaign to silence dissent and crush the aspirations of individuals craving for freedom”.
The society feared that the reported involvement of the military within the matter “underscores a harmful nexus of army energy and political oppression”.
Mr Sebuufu, who’s answerable for Bobi Wine’s private safety element, has been arrested a number of occasions and charged with varied offences, together with treason and unlawful possession of ammunition. The opposition says his arrests and prices are politically motivated.
He has been a key goal in a number of safety crackdowns on opposition actions, particularly throughout elections and mobilisation campaigns, native media reported.
Bobi Wine, a well-liked singer who has declared his intention to problem President Museveni for the second time within the 2026 elections, has typically been prevented from holding political rallies.
There are rising considerations in regards to the concentrating on of opposition figures and supporters by safety businesses as political mobilisation intensifies forward of the elections.
The federal government has blamed the opposition for the common clashes between civilians and the safety forces, saying they maintain rallies with out permission.
