The National Unity Platform (NUP) has accused the Ugandan government of weaponizing legal processes and using journalists as complainants in what it sees as a politically driven attempt to dismantle its leadership structure—starting with the targeting of Robert Kyagulanyi’s trusted bodyguard, Edward Ssebufu, commonly known as Eddie Mutwe.
On Monday, Mutwe was formally charged and remanded to Masaka Central Prison following his appearance at Masaka High Court. He now faces six charges: one of aggravated robbery, four of simple robbery, and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. These charges were added to an earlier case involving three other NUP members: Achileo Kivumbi, Robert Mugumya, and Grace Wakabi.
The charges stem from an incident said to have occurred on May 18, 2024, during the burial of businessman Pascal Ssekasamba in Manja village, Lwengo District. Prosecutors allege that Mutwe and his co-accused robbed several individuals—many of them journalists—of mobile phones, clothing, and cash, while allegedly threatening or using violence.
Among the complainants is journalist Margaret Kayondo, who reportedly lost a Camon 12 mobile phone and a green sweater. Others named include Drake Lubega, Rodgers Murungi, John Mukalazi, and Haruna Ssekito, who also reportedly lost personal items ranging from mobile phones to cash. Another journalist, Zainab Namusaazi, is said to have been physically assaulted during the same incident.
However, NUP leaders have challenged the credibility and timing of the charges, suggesting that the complainants—especially those in the media—are being used to lend legitimacy to what they consider a politically motivated case. They argue that the state is constructing a legal narrative intended to criminalize their support network and suppress dissent ahead of the 2026 elections.
The controversy deepened following Mutwe’s arrest on April 27, 2025. According to his legal team and family, he was taken by security operatives from Mukono District and held incommunicado for several days. His whereabouts remained unknown until Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba publicly acknowledged that Mutwe had been held in his private basement.
Gen. Muhoozi claimed Mutwe was being “kept safe” and was even “learning Runyankole,” his native language, during the period of unofficial detention. When Mutwe was finally presented in court last week, he appeared visibly frail and had his signature beard shaved off—something his supporters interpreted as a symbolic act meant to humiliate him.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), through its Chairperson Mariam Wangadya, issued a directive for Mutwe’s immediate release, calling the detention unlawful. However, this order was disregarded, and Mutwe was instead brought before Masaka Grade One Magistrate Abudallah Kayiza, who remanded him pending a High Court bail application.
Because the charges involve aggravated robbery, they are only bailable by the High Court. As a result, Mutwe will remain in custody until at least May 25, 2025.
Observers say the incident reflects a broader trend in Uganda’s political environment—one in which opposition members face increasing legal and institutional pressure. While the state maintains that its actions are based on legitimate complaints and evidence, the NUP insists the charges are part of a deliberate strategy to weaken its leadership through selective arrests and public trials.
“This is not about justice; it’s about intimidation,” said a senior NUP official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Using journalists as complainants gives the case public sympathy, but the timing and nature of the accusations raise too many questions.”
As the legal process unfolds, attention continues to grow—both within Uganda and internationally—around the treatment of opposition figures and the role of state institutions in political disputes.
