A faction within the National Unity Platform (NUP) has accused four bodyguards of party leader Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, of betraying the opposition movement after they appeared in court looking happy and healthier, contrary to their previous frail state.
Edward Ssebuufu, alias Eddie Mutwe, Achilleo Kivumbi, Mugumya Gadafi, and Grace Wakabi were brought before the Masaka High Court on 12th ,August, 2025 for a bail hearing. The group has been in prison since May 2025, facing charges of aggravated robbery, simple robbery, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The prosecution alleges that the accused, while working as Bobi Wine’s security detail, attacked and robbed mourners, including two female journalists, during a burial ceremony in Manja Village, Lwengo District, in May 2024.
During their initial court appearances in May 2025, the suspects appeared visibly weak, with Eddie Mutwe seen shivering and pleading for medical release. NUP seized on their condition, using it to rally international support, alleging that the Ugandan government was persecuting and torturing its members.
However, their latest court appearance has sparked outrage among some NUP officials after the suspects appeared in good health, smiling, and well groomed, with Eddie Mutwe even sporting a full beard.
“Which prison allows someone to grow a beard? Are they in prison or on vacation? Something is not right; it’s clear they have been compromised,” a top NUP official said.
Another party member expressed frustration, stating, “They were very helpful to the party when they were frail. It helped us appeal to the international community to pressure dictator Museveni. Now, how do we convince them that there is torture and political persecution in Uganda when the prisoners are all smiles and healthier?”
This is not the first time NUP has been accused of leveraging public sympathy for political gain. In the past, the party has been criticised for parading accident victims as torture survivors to tarnish the government’s image.
Rule of law organisations have condemned such tactics, arguing that they undermine genuine legal processes. “Using emotional appeals to evade accountability erodes public trust in the justice system,” said one human rights advocate.
As the case continues, questions remain over whether the suspects’ improved condition is a result of better prison treatment or, as NUP claims, a sign of betrayal.
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