A Ugandan opposition activist, allegedly held captive by the son of President Yoweri Museveni, appears to have been tortured, according to the country’s justice minister.
Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Museveni’s eldest son and Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, said last week that he had detained Eddie Mutwe, the chief bodyguard for opposition leader Bobi Wine, in his basement. Kainerugaba later claimed on social media that he used Mutwe as a “punching bag.”
Mutwe, who was arrested on April 27, was presented in court on Monday and remanded on robbery charges. His lawyer, Magellan Kazibwe, confirmed that Mutwe was subjected to daily torture, including electrocution, while in custody. Kazibwe said his client was confined in a private home and forced into a basement by masked individuals.
Justice Minister Norbert Mao, a former opposition leader, expressed outrage at the treatment, condemning the use of “brutalised and tortured suspects” in judicial processes. Mao did not specify who was responsible for Mutwe’s injuries but called for swift action from the courts.
The National Unity Platform (NUP), the political party to which Mutwe belongs, reported that he was abducted by armed, uniformed men near Uganda’s capital, Kampala. The Uganda Human Rights Commission has ordered Kainerugaba’s release of Mutwe, although Kainerugaba has not publicly commented on the matter.
Kainerugaba, frequently criticized for his provocative comments on social media, has made headlines in the past, including a January post threatening to behead Bobi Wine. His actions have raised concerns about Uganda’s political climate as his father, who has ruled since 1986, prepares for another reelection bid in January.
Human rights activists have long accused the Museveni government of widespread abuses, including unlawful detentions and disappearances, allegations the government consistently denies.