By Our Reporter
Police Deny Detaining NUP’s Eddie Mutwe Amid Rising Tensions Over Opposition Crackdowns
Police have denied detaining Mr Edward Ssebufu, alias Eddie Mutwe, the chief civilian bodyguard to Robert Kyagulanyi, the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) principal.
The Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP), Mr Joel Ssenyonyi, and Mr Kyagulanyi said on Sunday evening that Mr Ssebufu was intercepted by individuals believed to be security operatives attached to the elite Special Forces Command (SFC) and forced into a Toyota Hiace van, commonly referred to as a “drone,” before being taken to an undisclosed location.
“Comrade Eddie Mutwe has just been violently abducted from Kiwango village in Mukono District by armed men in SFC uniform travelling in a Toyota van (‘drone’),” Mr Kyagulanyi said in a post on his X platform.
Police spokesperson Mr Kituuma Rusoke told journalists at the police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, on Monday, April 28, that he had not been briefed about Mr Ssebufu’s disappearance.
Mr Ssebufu has been a consistent target in multiple security crackdowns on NUP activities, particularly during elections and mobilisation drives.
This latest incident adds to growing concerns about the harassment of opposition figures and supporters as political mobilisation efforts gain momentum ahead of the 2026 general elections, which many citizens fear could be tainted by violence.
Enforced disappearances and violent arrests of opposition supporters have occurred repeatedly before, during, and after the 2021 presidential elections.
Some of the missing individuals later resurfaced when brought before the General Court Martial, while others were found abandoned on roadsides bearing signs of torture.
Mr Kyagulanyi, who recently announced his intention to challenge President Museveni for a second time in the 2026 general elections, has faced repeated disruptions to his mobilisation activities across the country.
“The Uganda Police Force has come across an announcement regarding the planned launch of the youth protest vote, scheduled for Monday, April 28, 2025, at the National Unity Platform Headquarters.
UPF hereby notifies the organisers and all concerned parties that the proposed launch, along with any associated activities, will not be permitted. All individuals and groups are formally cautioned against participating in or facilitating any engagements related to this launch,” the police said in a statement.
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