Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has strongly condemned the abduction and continued ‘incommunicado detention’ of Edward Ssebuufu, popularly known as Eddie Mutwe, the chief bodyguard to the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine.
In a bold statement issued Friday morning, amid heightened tensions between First Son and CDF Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and Bobi Wine on social media, the ULS described Eddie Mutwe’s ordeal as “emblematic of a broader and deepening campaign to stifle dissent and erode fundamental rights in Uganda.”
“Eddie Mutwe’s ordeal is not an isolated incident but part of a systematic campaign to silence dissent and crush the aspirations of a people yearning for freedom,” the statement, signed by ULS Vice President, Asiimwe Anthony, read on Friday.
Eddie Mutwe was reportedly abducted on April 27, 2025, and has since been held incommunicado, with reports of torture and inhuman treatment making headlines since his arrest.
But in its Friday statement, the Law Society noted that his arrest was not a rogue operation, but rather part of a systemic pattern of political persecution, with high-ranking officers of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) implicated in his unlawful detention.
“The reported involvement of high-ranking officials of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces underscores a dangerous nexus of military power and political oppression,” the statement read.
According to the Bar, this reflects a dangerous merging of military power with political repression, placing Uganda’s democratic and constitutional foundations at serious risk.
Amid all the fracas and tension, the legal fraternity has, therefore, called for “the unconditional release of Eddie Mutwe and all political prisoners, with full transparency regarding their whereabouts and condition.”
The ULS also called for an impartial and international investigation into the disturbing allegations of torture, enforced disappearance, and state-sponsored disinformation campaigns. The Society emphasized the need to hold all perpetrators, regardless of rank or office, accountable before the law.
The Bar further decried the continued use of incommunicado detention, torture, and harassment as instruments of political control, arguing that such practices not only violate Uganda’s Constitution but also international human rights standards to which the country is a signatory.
It (the Society) urged government authorities to cease their campaign of intimidation and instead uphold the freedom of expression and civil liberties enshrined in the law.
To the international community, the ULS issued a clear appeal for decisive action, calling on foreign governments, human rights institutions, and development partners to apply diplomatic pressure and support accountability mechanisms targeting Ugandan officials complicit in abuse of power.
The Society reaffirmed its commitment to mobilizing legal, civic, and global resources in defense of Eddie Mutwe and all other victims of state violence.
“The ULS commits to mobilizing legal, civic, and global support for Eddie Mutwe and all victims of state violence. We will not rest until justice is served and Uganda is free. The time for a radical new dawn is now. Together, we shall overcome,” Asiimwe noted.
The bold ULS statement comes in the wake of a series of inflammatory comments made by Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who publicly admitted to ordering Eddie Mutwe’s arrest and holding him under military watch.
His remarks, which included mocking references to the detainee being “taught Runyakore” and “saluting Mzee’s portrait,” have only fueled public outrage, with opposition leaders accusing the UPDF of operating above the law and undermining civilian oversight.
With condemnation growing from both legal and political circles, the pressure is mounting heavily on Uganda’s security forces to release Eddie Mutwe and end what the ULS described as a campaign of impunity disguised as national security.
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