Supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) staged a peaceful demonstration in Jinja City on Monday to protest the continued torture and human rights violations allegedly perpetrated by Ugandan security agencies.
The demonstration followed the controversial detention of Edward Ssebuufu, also known as Eddie Mutwe, the chief bodyguard of NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi, by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
Carrying placards with messages such as “Stop Torture” and “Free Eddie Mutwe Now,” the protesters marched through parts of Jinja, demanding his immediate and unconditional release.
Led by Sulaiman Namwoza, the demonstrators condemned the UPDF’s actions, accusing the military of violating constitutional provisions by detaining civilians in military facilities and denying them legal representation.
“The Constitution is clear—no civilian should be held or tried in a military facility. Eddie Mutwe deserves justice, and we will not keep silent until he is freed,” Namwoza told reporters.
Mutwe was reportedly abducted by security operatives in Mukono District on April 27, 2025. His whereabouts remained unknown for several days, sparking concern from family, colleagues, and human rights organizations.
Public anxiety intensified last week after Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, claimed on social media that Mutwe was being held in his basement—an admission that drew widespread national and international condemnation.
Human rights advocates and opposition leaders have described Mutwe’s detention as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Uganda.
Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, has persistently called for the release of all political prisoners and an end to what he terms state-sanctioned abductions and torture.
As the Jinja protest ended peacefully, participants vowed to keep mobilizing for Mutwe’s release and to rally nationwide support against what they described as escalating political persecution.
Meanwhile, emerging reports from Masaka City indicate that Eddie Mutwe has been transferred to Masaka High Court, where he is expected to be formally charged.
Details regarding the charges are yet to be confirmed.