A YEAR LATER, How Masaka Journalists’ Case Landed Eddie Mutwe, Other Bobi Wine Bodyguards in Trouble With Museveni State

After spending days in illegal detention, Edward Ssebuufu aka Eddie Mutwe, a bodyguard to main opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, was finally brought to court in Masaka. Charges related to a case involving Masaka journalists were read to him.

The charges include robbery, assault and damage to property.

BACKGROUND TO THE CHARGES

These are the same charges that Eddie Mutwe’s colleagues – Bobi Wine’s bodyguards Achileo Kivumbi, Gaddafi Mugumya, and Grace Wakabi – face.

They relate to events of May 18, 2024 in Manja Village in Kisekka Sub County of Lwengo District during the funeral of UK-based businessman Paul Ssekasamba.

Two journalists, Zainabu Namusaazi of Next Media Group, and Margret Kayondo, of Radio Ssimba, claimed that at the funeral in Manja, Bobi Wine’s bodyguards assaulted them, and destroyed their equipment.

Namusaazi and Kayondo reported the matter to Kiwangala Police Station where they recorded their statements.

On her part, Namusaazi alleged Kivumbi led fellow Bobi Wine bodyguards in attacking her and destroying her video camera and mobile phone.

According to her, Kivumbi had directed his fellow guards to grab the microphone from Kimanya-Kabonera MP Abed Bwanika as he started blasting Bobi Wine for fanning criticism against him and other prominent party members.

Namusaazi further alleged that Bobi Wine’s guards gave orders to journalists not to capture statements by Bwanika.

She stated that the guards instructed journalists not to document a confrontation where Kimanya-Kabonera MP Abed Bwanika criticized Kyagulanyi for allegedly sponsoring attacks against party members who disagreed with his leadership.

Namusaazi went on to claim that it was at this point that a scuffle ensued as the guards reportedly assaulted journalists and destroyed their equipment.

She also alleged that some of the guards wore black masks to disguise their identities.

For Kayondo, she alleged that a group of guards (bouncers) she claimed belonged to NUP, who wore red overalls, assaulted her for coming to the event uninvited and starting to film what was happening.

Kayondo further claimed that she sustained injuries and that it was a group of onlookers who came to her rescue after. She also said that her phone was damaged in the process.

NEARLY A YEAR LATER

In February this year, police and the military raided NUP headquarters in Makerere Kavule, arresting Achileo Kivumbi, Gaddafi Mugumya, and Grace Wakabi. These were detained for weeks before they were produced in court on March 26, 2025.

Kivumbi, Mugumya and Wakabi first appeared before Masaka Chief Magistrate Abudallah Kayiza who would commit them to the High Court the following month.

Before he could commit them to the High Court for trial, Kayiza read to Kivumbi, Mugumya and Wakabi charges against them: robbery, assault, and malicious damage to property

State prosecutor Michael Wakosese assured court that investigations into the matter had been completed and that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had gathered sufficient evidence to pin Bobi Wine’s bodyguards for the offences.

Prosecution alleged that the accused used sharp objects and sticks to rob Margret Kayondo, a journalist from Radio Simba, of a green sweater and Camon12 mobile phone valued at Shs730,000.

The state also alleges that the accused assaulted Namusaazi and destroyed her camera valued at Shs1.5m.

Prosecution also claimed that the guards also Shs200,000 from Rodgers Mulungi and John Mukalaazi, and reportedly assaulted Drake Lubega and Haruna Ssekitto before stealing their mobile phones.

EDDIE MUTWE’S WOES

Eddie Mutwe would be abducted from Mukono and detained for days before being dumped at Masaka Court. He faced the same charges as Kivumbi, Mugumya and Wakabi, and was remanded even when he looked weak and sick.

There are some unanswered questions on the case: Why did it take about a year to take the guards to court? Why first hold Eddie Mutwe in Muhoozi basement instead of taking him to court? Why were the bodyguards first held incommunicado for weeks before they were produced in court?

Last week, President Museveni’s son and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba confirmed that Eddie Mutwe was in his basement learning Runyankore. Gen Muhoozi even told Bobi Wine, ‘what will you do about it?’ (See Details Here).

On May 05, Eddie Mutwe was charged with robbery and remanded. (See Details Here).

Eddie Mutwe’s lawyer said he told him that they beat him with electricity wires (solidos) five times a day and squeezed his pr!v@te p@rt$, as reported Here.

Hours after Eddie Mutwe appeared in court, justice and constitutional affairs minister Norbert Mao issued a statement suggesting that Eddie Mutwe should be released unconditionally, as reported Here.

It should also be remembered that after Museveni’s son’s statements, former army commander Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu warned Museveni to do something about his son Gen Muhoozi before it is too late. (See Details Here).

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