What did Muhoozi do to Eddie Mutwe?
On May 1, 2025, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has publicly claimed responsibility for detaining the chief bodyguard of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, raising alarms about the increasing militarization of political affairs and shrinking democratic space ahead of the 2026 general elections.
In a provocative series of posts on his official X platform, Gen Muhoozi, son of long-serving President Yoweri Museveni, posted a photo of a half-naked Edward Ssebufu—widely known as Eddie Mutwe—who serves as Bobi Wine’s head of civilian security. The general claimed that Ssebufu was being held in his private basement, made to salute President Museveni’s portrait each morning before breakfast, and was currently “learning Runyankore,” the western Ugandan dialect closely associated with the Museveni family and inner political elite.
The post included a direct jab at Kyagulanyi: “Correct Kabobi! What will you do about it? Coward.” The general added that he had not yet “started” with Ssebufu, ominously threatening to “castrate him” and warning Kyagulanyi of further consequences should he “abuse anybody in my family again.”
How did Ugandans react to the shocking post?
The comments have stirred outrage, shock, and concern within Uganda and among international observers, especially considering that Ssebufu was reported missing days earlier following what witnesses described as a violent abduction by men in Special Forces Command (SFC) uniforms in Mukono District. According to Kyagulanyi and the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, Ssebufu was grabbed in broad daylight by armed men in a Toyota Hiace van—locally referred to as a “drone,” a term now synonymous with forced disappearances.
“This was a military operation against a civilian with no known charges,” Ssenyonyi said. “It was a clear message to anyone who stands with the opposition.”
Uganda Police spokesperson Mr. Kituuma Rusoke admitted to the press on April 28 that he had no official briefing on the matter. “I’ve only seen the reports on social media. I can’t provide any details because I haven’t been briefed,” he said, further fueling suspicions of extra-legal actions taken without the knowledge or oversight of civilian law enforcement.
The timing of Ssebufu’s disappearance is telling. Just hours before his abduction, security operatives sealed off the headquarters of the National Unity Platform (NUP), the party led by Kyagulanyi. The shutdown followed NUP’s announcement of a youth protest vote campaign launch scheduled for April 28. The Uganda Police Force swiftly issued a ban on the event, citing threats to public order, and warned against any associated gatherings.
When did Gen. Muhoozi become popular for his militaristic politics?
This latest episode is part of a broader pattern of targeted repression against opposition figures, especially those aligned with Bobi Wine. Since the contested 2021 elections, which saw Museveni secure a sixth term in office amidst widespread allegations of fraud and violence, dozens of NUP supporters have been abducted, tortured, or held incommunicado. Many have reappeared months later in military courts or abandoned with visible signs of torture, while others remain unaccounted for.
In recent months, Kyagulanyi has faced continuous blockades and restrictions on his political mobilisation tours. Authorities have repeatedly disrupted his rallies, citing security concerns. Nevertheless, the opposition leader has remained defiant, vowing to challenge Museveni again in 2026.
“Uganda is not a monarchy,” Kyagulanyi has often stated. “Power belongs to the people, not to one family.”
Gen Muhoozi, whose political ambitions have been the subject of speculation for years, has increasingly used social media to broadcast his intentions and assert dominance. His public declarations about Ssebufu’s detention mark a chilling turn, suggesting that elements within Uganda’s military are operating with impunity—and with direct threats of violence against those challenging the status quo.
The international community has yet to issue an official response, but human rights groups are calling for urgent investigations into the legality of Ssebufu’s detention and the increasing abuse of military power in civilian political affairs.
As the 2026 elections approach, Uganda finds itself at a dangerous crossroads. The abduction and public humiliation of an opposition figure’s bodyguard, endorsed openly by the head of the country’s military, underscores a profound breakdown in the rule of law and democratic norms.
The nation watches as its future hangs in the balance—between a rising opposition fueled by youthful discontent and a ruling elite determined to retain power by any means necessary.
