Kampala, Uganda – The courtroom at Masaka grade one Magistrate’s Court was gripped by an unnerving silence today as Eddie Mutwe, a prominent aide to opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) appeared before the magistrate, visibly injured, trembling and on walking with support.
Clutching a crutch to support his frail body, his wrists bearing raw scars from tight handcuffs, Mutwe’s condition told a story of pain that words could barely express.
The crowd of lawyers, journalists and concerned citizens watched in distressed silence, some wiping away tears as he limped into the dock.
In a rare move, Mutwe requested through his legal team advocates Samuel Muyizzi Mulindwa, Benjamin Katana and George Musisi that he be allowed to address the court directly.
“He has something to say. It’s urgent and he feels his life depends on it,” said lawyer Samuel Muyizzi as he sought leave from the Chief Magistrate.
After a brief but tense pause, the magistrate granted him a few minutes to confer with his lawyers before deciding on whether he could take the stand to speak for himself.
The scene inside the courtroom today was not just legal, it was deeply human. Mutwe’s shivering hands, his weak voice barely audible even as he attempted to speak to his lawyers, painted a picture of alleged physical abuse and psychological trauma that no official statement could erase.
Journalists were barred from filming inside, but images of Mutwe’s deteriorated condition have begun making rounds on social media, sparking widespread outrage under hashtags like #JusticeForMutwe and #EndTortureNow..
Human rights organisations and opposition leaders have repeatedly accused security agencies particularly the Special Forces Command (SFC) of abducting, torturing and detaining political activists in undisclosed facilities, a practice critics say is reminiscent of Uganda’s darkest days.
Addressing the press outside the courtroom, lawyer George Musisi did not mince words:
“What we witnessed today is a clear sign of state-sanctioned brutality. Mutwe’s injuries are fresh, his mental state is fragile and yet he has not been afforded even basic medical care. This is not just an attack on him, it is an attack on the rule of law.”
Fellow lawyer Benjamin Katana added that they would be filing for a medical examination, an independent inquiry into the abuse and bail on humanitarian grounds.
Moments after court proceedings ended, Bobi Wine took to X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“This is what they do to anyone who stands with us. Eddie Mutwe is not a criminal, he is a patriot. Tortured, broken, but unbowed.”
Mutwe’s case is not isolated. In recent years, Uganda has seen a growing pattern of enforced disappearances, incommunicado detentions and alleged torture of opposition figures, activists, and journalists.
According to Chapter Four Uganda and Human Rights Watch, at least 128 opposition affiliated individuals have reported similar cases of abuse in the past 24 months, but convictions or even investigations remain rare.
The court has adjourned the matter to later this week, pending Mutwe’s formal address and a medical assessment. The magistrate, in a visibly shaken tone, said:
“This court cannot ignore what we have witnessed today. The law must protect all regardless of their political beliefs.”
Mutwe’s lawyers are expected to file a constitutional petition challenging his detention conditions while rights activists are calling for an international probe into the use of torture by Ugandan security agencies.
Also Read: Bobi Wine Demands Justice for Missing Police Officer Allegedly Abducted by SFC
