Uganda, once affectionately known as the “Pearl of Africa,” a title coined by Winston Churchill for its unmatched natural beauty and vibrant culture, is currently grappling with a profound crisis of democracy and human rights. What was once a symbol of African potential is now a terrain where holding an opposing political view can have one abducted, tortured, and paraded in humiliation. The nation’s constitutional promises of liberty and justice are slowly eroding under the weight of militarized politics and systemic oppression.
A new trend has emerged in Uganda’s political landscape, one where critics of the regime are taken to undisclosed locations—often referred to cynically as “basements”—to undergo indoctrination and torture. A disturbing post by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) once mockingly declared that an abducted opposition supporter, Edward Ssebuufu aka Eddie Mutwe, was “in my basement learning Runyankore”—a language associated with the current president and many high-ranking officials. This attempt to dehumanize opponents echoes the dark chapters of post-independence African history, reminiscent of the authoritarian tactics employed by regimes like Idi Amin’s in Uganda, Mobutu’s Zaire, and Mengistu’s Ethiopia.
The Case Of Eddie Mutwe: A Symbol Of State Brutality
Edward Ssebuufu, better known as Eddie Mutwe, is the lead bodyguard to opposition leader Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine. His recent abduction and torture shocked the nation. When news of his disappearance emerged, Uganda Police and the Special Forces Command (SFC) denied knowledge of his whereabouts. This lack of accountability raised chilling questions about who truly controls the levers of power in Uganda.
Days later, the CDF shared a photo of Eddie looking severely battered and claimed, with apparent sarcasm, that he was “learning Runyankore.” This flippant attitude from a senior military officer about the state-sanctioned torture of a civilian exemplifies the decay of professionalism and legality within Uganda’s security apparatus.
When Eddie was eventually brought to court, journalists were prohibited from filming or photographing him. Those present reported that he appeared grievously injured, unable to walk unaided. Shockingly, the charge? Stealing a jumper and a sweater.
Here is Eddie Mutwe’s court testimony, quoted in full, a haunting testimony to Uganda’s descent into cruelty:
“When I was first arraigned here, having been released from the torture facility I had been held at, you (referring to the Judge) didn’t allow the media to see and report the horrendous state in which I was.
I have been punished for the alleged offence I committed.
I am accused of stealing a jumper and sweater, but what I have gone through more than suffices for punishment.
I was beaten, spent a week handcuffed and partially submerged in water.
[During my last court appearance here], you directed that I be given appropriate treatment, but my only respite comes from the twelve painkillers I have to take every day.
I haven’t received any additional medication or treatment. My ankle (which was repeatedly hit by my captors) is stuck in an unnatural position and has failed to return to its standard form.
If it’s what it will take, let these arms be cut off so that I can get the treatment I need.
My life is ebbing away… I am not getting the treatment I need.
Please help and release me. I am not getting the treatment I need. Help and order my release so that I get the specialised treatment I need.”
The Bigger Picture: Systemic Oppression
The use of state machinery to persecute dissenters is not limited to Eddie Mutwe. Numerous opposition supporters arrested during the 2021 presidential elections are still detained without trial. Some were reportedly coerced by government envoys to plead guilty to trumped-up treason charges. Those who refused remain imprisoned in undisclosed locations.
Even foreign diplomats who speak out are not spared. The German Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Matthias Schauer, was recently accused of supporting rebel groups after condemning abductions and human rights abuses. Such labeling of critics as enemies of the state is a tactic borrowed from authoritarian playbooks.
One cannot ignore the regional implications. Across East Africa, coordinated political repression appears to be growing. The East African Community (EAC), established to foster economic growth and political unity, is ironically being used to shield dictators. Cross-border abductions and suppression of opposition voices have become eerily synchronized.
> “While East African leaders have failed to build the East African Community as an economic bloc that improves citizens’ lives, they have excelled at coordinating repression… The only other groups with a more effective regional network for criminal activity are East Africa’s car thieves and the crooks stealing fishing boats on Lake Victoria. For now, the EAC that functions best is not the Community, but East African Cruelty.”
Betraying The Bush War Legacy
President Museveni himself once decried the very vices now entrenched under his rule. In his book Sowing the Mustard Seed, Museveni argued that his 1980s bush war was justified by “rampant abuse of human rights, lack of democracy, and impunity.” He stated:
“The people were being killed, detained without trial, and silenced… we had to go to the bush to restore sanity and democracy.”
Yet, what we see now is a contradiction of that vision. The new UPDF Bill, for instance, grants the military sweeping powers while undermining civilian oversight and constitutional protections. Key clauses even permit indefinite detention without trial under vague charges of “national security,” thereby violating both Uganda’s Constitution and international human rights instruments, such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
When the bill was passed, MPs were reportedly offered financial inducements to vote in favor. A leading Ugandan newspaper summarized the moment with a chilling headline: “Goodbye to Rule of Law.” The Minister of ICT attempted damage control but failed to address the growing erosion of democratic norms.
Constitutional Betrayal And Youth Response
According to Article 20(1) of the Constitution of Uganda: “Fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual are inherent and not granted by the State.” Similarly, Article 6(d) of the EAC Treaty emphasizes adherence to principles of good governance, democracy, and the rule of law.
Dr. Isoga Brian Joshua, President of the Africa Youth Convention, strongly condemns this systemic breakdown:
“This is not the democracy our forefathers fought for. The Constitution is supreme and must be upheld at all times. As the Africa Youth Convention, we call on all East African leaders to end these atrocities, uphold the rule of law, and protect the dignity of their people.”
Reclaiming Pan-Africanism
Pan-Africanism—once a rallying cry for unity, freedom, and justice across the continent—has been betrayed. The current wave of authoritarianism mocks the legacies of Nkrumah, Nyerere, Mandela, and other giants who believed that democracy and development must walk hand in hand.
It’s time to reclaim that dream. The youth of Africa, who make up the majority, must demand a new era where the rule of law is not a myth, but a living reality. As the 2026 elections approach, Uganda—and indeed East Africa—stands at a crossroads. Will the continent uphold its constitutional promises, or continue down the path of repression?
Let the words of tortured and wounded Eddie Mutwe echo louder than any government propaganda. Let his pain spark outrage, reform, and resistance.
Africa deserves better. Uganda deserves better. And the time to act is now.
