Eddie Mutwe, a bodyguard of National Unity Platform (NUP) party, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, was on Monday charged with aggravated robbery, days after the Chief of Defense Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba said he had him in his basement.
Appearing before Grade one Magistrate Addallah Kayiza at Masaka Chief Magistrate Court, Mutwe was charged with simple and aggravated robbery, stemming from an incident in Manja village, Lwengo district.
Hos co- accused and fellow bodyguard Achileo Kivumbi, faces similar charges.
Mutwe who was allegedly abducted last week, was brought to court under tight security, barefoot and visibly in pain.
Magistrate Kayiza ordered that Mutwe be remanded to Masaka prison due to his condition.
No please was entered and further proceedings are expected in the coming days.
Last week Gen Muhoozi, who is also President Yoweri Museveni’s son, confirmed that he had been holding Eddie Mutwe five days after his disappearance.
Magellan Kazibwe, the lawyer representing Mutwe, whose real name is Edward Sebuufu, alleged his client had been tortured.
He told journalists outside courtroom that his client was allegedly beaten five times daily using electric wires and made to salute President Museveni’s portrait.
Kazibwe added that Sebuufu was in “great pain” and had also faced the squeezing of his “private parts”.
According Kazibwe, Sebuufu had faced electrocution and that his team were planning to take him to hospital.
Rights groups have long accused the authorities of targeting the opposition especially during the run up to elections.
As Sebuufu was brought to court, security operatives tried to shield him to prevent the media from seeing him.
But videos showed Bobi Wine’s bodyguard barefoot, and hardly able to walk alone.
Last week, Gen Kainerugaba posted on social media that Sebuufu was in his custody being taught Runyakore.
The army chief said the bodyguard had been shaved and that he planned to castrate him.
These comments coincided with images shared online of a semi naked man resembling Mutwe, drenched in sweat and shaved of his trademark beards, sparking widespread condemnation.
The detention comes as Uganda gears up for elections in 2026 where Museveni, who has been in power for nearly four decades, is expected to run against Bobi Wine.
Several human rights activists have condemned Sebuufuu’s detention, meanwhile Uganda’s Human Rights Commission called for his immediate release.
Civil society organisations have also warned that his detention is part of a systematic campaign to silence dissent and crush opposition ahead of the general election.
However, the government blames the opposition for civilian and police clashes, saying they hold rallies without permission.
