Uganda’s military chief Muhoozi claims he has opposition official in his custody
Kainerugaba shared what seemed to be a photo of Mutwe, shirtless, and claimed he had caught him "like a grasshopper."
The son of Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, who also serves as the country's military head, has admitted to detaining opposition activist Eddie Mutwe in his basement and has threatened him with violence.
This follows reports from the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, which claims that Mutwe was abducted by armed men last week.
Mutwe, whose real name is Edward Ssebuufu, disappeared on April 27 after being forcibly taken near Kampala. He is known as the chief bodyguard to opposition leader Bobi Wine.
While the police deny having any information on Mutwe’s whereabouts, the NUP party continues to assert that he was kidnapped by the armed men, leaving his location unknown until the recent statement.
In a series of posts on X late Thursday, Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba shared what seemed to be a photo of Mutwe, shirtless, and claimed he had caught him "like a grasshopper."
Reuters could not independently verify the photograph at the time, but the NUP party later shared it on their X handle in a post rallying support for Mutwe.
In a post responding to Wine's statement about Mutwe’s disappearance, Kainerugaba wrote, "He is in my basement. You are next!"
A few hours later, he added, "I still have to castrate him," stating that Mutwe would only be released once Museveni issued the command.
Requests for comments from representatives of the Ugandan government, military, and police went unanswered.
Kainerugaba, 51, is known for making provocative statements on social media, including his 2022 threat to invade neighboring Kenya and a January warning to behead Wine, a well-known musician-turned-politician who placed second in Uganda's 2021 election.
Museveni, 80, has been in power in Uganda since 1986 and is expected to run for re-election next January.
His administration has faced consistent accusations from opposition figures and human rights groups of engaging in widespread abuses, including abductions and unlawful detentions.
Museveni has consistently rejected these claims.
According to a statement from the Uganda Law Society, "Eddie Mutwe's suffering is not an isolated case, but part of a broader, systematic effort to suppress dissent and crush the hopes of young people seeking freedom."
Wine, who alleges that the 2021 election was tainted by significant fraud, posted on X on Friday that military personnel had raided his party’s headquarters ahead of a planned event in support of Mutwe.
Kizza Besigye, a veteran opposition figure who has run against Museveni in four presidential contests, was arrested in November and is still in custody, facing charges that include treason.