Gen. Muhoozi Confirms Detention of Bobi Wine’s Bodyguard

The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has confirmed that Eddie Mutwe, the bodyguard of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, is in military detention.

In a series of controversial posts on X (formerly Twitter), Gen Muhoozi said he would only release Mr Mutwe on the orders of President Yoweri Museveni, whom he referred to as "Mzee".

“I will only release Eddie to Mzee when he gives me the order,” Gen Muhoozi posted. “He would have learnt the history of NRA/UPDF by then.”

He went on to describe Mr Mutwe, whose real name is Edward Ssebuufu, as a "so-called military commander" of the opposition and said he was being used as a “punching bag”.

The army chief also shared a photo of Mr Mutwe, shirtless, and wrote that he was “learning Runyankore”, a language spoken in the President’s home region.

“If Kabobi [Bobi Wine] abuses anybody in my family again, he will imperil Eddie even more than he already has,” Gen Muhoozi added.

Bobi Wine responded by accusing the army of abducting his bodyguard and holding him without trial.

“Comrade Eddie Mutwe has just been violently abducted from Kiwango village in Mukono District by armed men in SFC uniform,” the opposition leader said earlier this week.

The remarks by Gen Muhoozi have triggered outrage among human rights advocates and opposition figures, who say the continued detention is unlawful and politically motivated.

Legal experts have also raised concerns, noting that holding a civilian without charge or court appearance breaches Uganda’s constitutional protections.

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has not issued an official statement about the detention or the legal process surrounding Mr Mutwe’s case.

Mr Mutwe has previously been detained in connection with opposition activities. His latest arrest comes amid mounting political tension ahead of the 2026 general elections, with growing claims of political repression by state security agencies.