Kampala, Uganda: The Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has called upon prominent elders from Western Uganda’s Ankole and Kigezi sub-regions to denounce what he describes as “tribal, sectarian talk and actions” by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni and the country’s Chief of Defence Forces.
In a strongly worded letter dated May 6, 2025, addressed to notable figures, including Hon. Matthew Rukikaire, Hon. Nuwe Amanya Mushega, and Bishop Lambert Bainomugisha, the Archbishop of Mbarara Archdiocese, among others, Bobi Wine expressed deep concern over Gen Muhoozi’s recent social media posts and alleged actions, which he claims are fueling ethnic divisions and human rights violations in Uganda.
“Muhoozi has committed various crimes against humanity, including violent abductions and torture as well as the mass killing of over 150 citizens, which he commandeered between November 18th and 19th, 2020,” Bobi Wine alleges in the letter.
The opposition leader specifically references the recent abduction and alleged torture of his bodyguard, Edward Ssebuufu, also known as Eddie Mutwe, claiming that on April 27, 2025, Mutwe was abducted and held incommunicado until May 4, when he was presented in court in Masaka bearing visible signs of torture.
Mr Wine further alleges that Gen Muhoozi went on to post images of a half-naked and visibly tortured Mutwe on social media, boasting about the abuse and stating that Mutwe was being taught Runyankore, thereby exacerbating ethnic tensions.
“In addition to Eddie’s ordeal, many of our supporters who have been abducted and subjected to grave torture have confirmed that this is not mere rhetoric. Many, while being tortured, have been told to call the Kabaka to save them, and to sing Ekitibwa kya Buganda while replacing “Sabasajja Kabaka” with “Ssabalwaanyi Museveni”!”
Gen Muhoozi would later admit in a social media post via his @mkainerugaba handle, to detaining Mutwe in his basement and posted a photo of him shirtless, stating he would release him only upon President Museveni’s command, actions that have intensified political tensions ahead of Uganda’s 2026 elections, with warnings of potential national instability.
In his three-page letter, Bobi Wine warned the Western Uganda elders that such actions could plunge the country into anarchy, stating, “As history teaches us, the worst catastrophes in human history did not begin with gas chambers or citizens killing each other. They began with degrading words, dehumanizing actions, hateful rhetoric, intolerance, and the abuse of power by a few against the many.”
“One would expect the Museveni family to appreciate the people of Uganda (and the people of Buganda in particular) for hosting them and treating them with so much kindness over the years, right from the Luwero bush-war days. Instead, they are now being provoked and asked, “What can you do?”” he wondered.
The NUP Principal has, therefore, urged the Ankole and Kigezi elders to disassociate themselves from what he describes as “barbaric, reckless impunity” and to caution President Museveni and General Muhoozi to exercise restraint.
“It falls on you, as some of the elders of Ankole and Kigezi Sub-regions, to disassociate yourselves from this barbaric, reckless impunity and caution Gen. Tibuhaburwa Museveni and his brutal son to exercise restraint before these actions plunge our country into anarchy. Even if they do not listen to you, you will have gone on record and discharged your moral duty,” Bobi Wine wrote.
“The National Unity Platform assures you of its intentions to work for and create a free, united, and prosperous Uganda where every citizen will be treated with dignity. We also assure you of our readiness to engage with you all in a discussion aimed at furthering this objective,” he concluded.
Below is the full letter
National Unity Platform
Plot 83/1023, Bombo Road, Makerere – Kavule
P.O. Box 122964, Kampala
+256 200909577
[email protected]
www.nupuganda.org
6th May, 2025
Hon. Matthew Rukikaire
Hon. Nuwe Amanya Mushega
Hon. Rtd. Justice Bart Magunda Katureebe
Hon. Elly Karuhanga
Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera
Hon. Mary Rutamwebwa Mugyenyi
Hon. John Nwoono Nasasira
Hon. Richard Kaijuka
Hon. Mary Karooro Okurut
Hon. Hope Ruhindi Mwesigye
Archbishop, Mbarara Archdiocese (Catholic Church)
Bishops of the Church of Uganda for all Dioceses in Ankole and Kigezi Sub-regions
All District Qadhis, Ankole and Kigezi Sub-regions
Dear Elders,
TRIBAL, SECTARIAN TALK AND ACTIONS BY GEN. MUSEVENI’S SON, MUHOOZI KAINERUGABA WITH THE POTENTIAL OF SETTING OUR COUNTRY ON FIRE
I bring you greetings and thank God for keeping you alive up to this point.
I write to you, as some of the elders from Ankole and Kigezi Sub-regions of Uganda, over a matter of significant public importance.
As you must have seen by now, over the past few years, Gen. Museveni’s son Muhoozi Kainerugaba has ramped up ethnic hatred in our country through his actions and the accompanying reckless talk – regularly expressed through posts on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.
Muhoozi has committed various crimes against humanity including violent abductions and torture as well as the mass killing of over 150 citizens which he commandeered between November 18th and 19th, 2020. To date, there has been no accountability for these crimes. He has gone ahead and boasted about committing similar crimes in neighboring countries such as South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in addition to threatening attacks on Kenya and Ethiopia.
Back home, Muhoozi is driving an extremely dangerous narrative and committing targeted crimes against a section of people on account of their ethnic origin. His latest victim is my personal friend and bodyguard Edward Ssebuufu aka Eddie Mutwe, a Muganda by tribe. Eddie was abducted on Sunday, 27th April 2025, and kept under incommunicado detention until Monday, 4th May 2025, when he was dumped at a Court in Masaka in great pain. Before then, on the night of Thursday, 1st May 2025, Muhoozi issued a number of posts in which he confirmed that Eddie Mutwe was being detained in his basement. He posted a shocking picture of him – naked and visibly tortured, and boasted of forcefully shaving off his beard and turning him into his punching bag. In three separate posts, he said that Eddie was being taught Runyankore – with a direct consequence of pitting Banyankore against the rest of the country. This he has consistently done.
In addition to Eddie’s ordeal, many of our supporters who have been abducted and subjected to grave torture have confirmed that this is not mere rhetoric. Many, while being tortured, have been told to call the Kabaka to save them, and to sing Ekitibwa kya Buganda while replacing “Sabasajja Kabaka” with “Ssabalwaanyi Museveni”!
As history teaches us, the worst catastrophes in human history did not begin with gas chambers or citizens killing each other. They began with degrading words, dehumanizing actions, hateful rhetoric, intolerance, and the abuse of power by a few against the many.
As you are aware, the bigger portion of the people of Uganda have been subjected to severe economic, social, and political inequalities and injustices. Government statistics themselves show the disparities and regional imbalances. The least one would expect is the aggravation of this situation by mocking the victims of these injustices.
One would expect the Museveni family to appreciate the people of Uganda (and the people of Buganda in particular) for hosting them and treating them with so much kindness over the years, right from the Luwero bush-war days. Instead, they are now being provoked and asked, “What can you do?”
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT IS GOING ON? IF NOT, WHAT ROLE CAN YOU PLAY BEFORE THE SITUATION GETS OUT OF HAND?
It falls on you, as some of the elders of Ankole and Kigezi Sub-regions, to disassociate yourselves from this barbaric, reckless impunity and caution Gen. Tibuhaburwa Museveni and his brutal son to exercise restraint before these actions plunge our country into anarchy. Even if they do not listen to you, you will have gone on record and discharged your moral duty.
The National Unity Platform assures you of its intentions to work for and create a free, united, and prosperous Uganda where every citizen will be treated with dignity. We also assure you of our readiness to engage with you all in a discussion aimed at furthering this objective.
Sincerely,
Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert
President
Bobi Wine’s appeal comes amid increasing concerns over political repression in Uganda, with human rights organizations and international bodies expressing alarm over the government’s actions against opposition figures and supporters.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative anews platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp for realtime updates.
