For Eddie Mutwe, the price for being the chief bodyguard of Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine comes with many costs. On April 26, that cost became reality when Eddie was whisked away to an unknown location where he was tortured and humiliated. When his friends and family inquire of the government authorities about his whereabouts, they’re hit with the defiant words of General Muhoozi: “Eddie is in my basement.”

“Eddie was captured for a whole week by the SFC, a private army created by General Muhoozi,” Bobi Wine told SaharaReporters. Eddie Mutwe, whose real name is Edward Ssebuufu is the chief bodyguard and head of security for musician-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly and politically known as Bobi Wine, the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP). As the chief bodyguard for Bobi Wine, Eddie is responsible for his safety during rallies, protests, and public events.

His role as chief bodyguard, plus the government’s appetite to stifle opposition in the country, has placed Eddie at the forefront of confrontations with security forces. On 30th December 2020, during the 2021 general election campaigns, Eddie, alongside other NUP associates, was arrested in Kalangala. They were charged with illegal possession of ammunition. The NUP described the charge as fabricated and politically motivated. 

Eddie Mutwe before his abduction              

Photo Credit: Instagram

Bobi Wine in November 2024, appointed Eddie as head of the Ideological Development Department of the NUP. As the dean of the NUP school of leadership, Eddie shapes the development of a curriculum based on the ideology of the party. He also mentors young leaders within the NUP. Eddie has been occupying himself with these productive activities until the day April 27, 2025, came by.

That evening, Eddie was reportedly abducted in Kiwango village, Mukono District, by armed men alleged to be of Uganda’s Special Forces Command (SFC). In an interview with Sahara Reporters, Bobi Wine said the police denied arresting Eddie or knowing anything about his whereabouts. For five days, no one, including Bobi Wine, knew where Eddie was.

“In a spiteful way, General Muhoozi posted on X, saying he was holding Eddie in his basement. He was teaching him Runyankore,” Bobi Wine said in an interview with Sahara Reporters.

Aside from being the eldest son of Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, is known to be a controversial figure on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). In October 2022, via X, General Muhoozi threatened to invade Kenya. An apology from his father to Kenyan President William Ruto helped de-escalate tension. That same year, he publicly showed his support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In January this year, he threatened to behead Bobi Wine. For his outspoken and often provocative posts, General Muhoozi earned the nickname “Tweeting General.” “General Muhoozi has always been on X. He is known for spreading hate,” Bobi Wine told Sahara Reporters. Therefore, it came as no surprise to Bobi Wine, his followers at NUP, and the people of Uganda in general to read General Muhoozi’s X post wherein he gave details of how Eddie had been tortured.

General Muhoozi went further to make several other posts. In one post, he said, “I can’t release Eddie now. It will be unfair to me and him. He is learning Runyankore, and we are both training for Kabobi.” Runyankore is the language of the tribe from which President Museveni comes. Kabobi is a reference to Bobi Wine. 

Eddie Mutwe after this abduction Photo Credit: General Muhoozi

In another post, General Muhoozi reiterated his stance, saying, “I captured NUP’s military commander like a grasshopper (Nsenene). If they keep on provoking us, we shall discipline them even more. Next is Kabobi! I have never joked in my life. I don’t know why people think my tweets are jokes“. Now I’m practicing on his so-called ‘military commander.’ Using him as a punching bag,” he added.

The abduction of Eddie and confirmation by General Muhoozi have sparked both national and international outrage, with calls to #FreeEddieMutwe. The Uganda Human Rights Commission, UHRC, issued a release order for Eddie. The commission, led by Mariam Wangadya, citing unlawful detention under Article 53(2) of the Ugandan constitution, directed General Muhoozi to release Eddie. General Muhoozi disobeyed the order. “I will only release Eddie to Mzee when he gives me the order,” he said.

This week, between Monday and Tuesday, Eddie appeared before the Masaka Grade One Magistrate Court, where he was charged with six counts involving aggravated robbery, simple robbery, and assault occasioning bodily harm. A video posted on X by Bobi Wine showed a visibly weak Eddie limping, barefoot, and being held to walk with the support of two security officials. As he was been ushered into the courtroom, journalists were barred from further taking pictures or video. Eddie’s lawyer, Magellan Kazibwe, and his colleagues are preparing to apply for his bail.

When Sahara Reporters asked Bobi Wine about the welfare of Eddie’s family, he said, “The family is distressed. Eddie’s mother is very sick. He has five children, and we are struggling to keep them courageous".

He also debunked claims that this struggle was about the forthcoming elections, “This is not about the elections. This is about being free. It is unfortunate that we have to keep fighting for our freedom. It’s either our freedom or die”.