Kampala, Uganda – After more than two months in detention, Noah Mutwe, a trusted bodyguard and mobilizer for National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, has been granted bail by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court.
Presiding magistrate Ronald Kayizzi today morning set bail at UGX 5 million cash, while each of Mutwe’s sureties was bonded at UGX 50 million non-cash. Mutwe, whose legal name is Noah Mitala, is jointly charged with ASP Charles Twine on allegations of inciting violence and malicious communication against senior government figures, including President Yoweri Museveni and Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The alleged offenses are said to have occurred between January 2024 and May 2025.
Both accused pleaded not guilty and are expected to reappear in court for mention on August 25, 2025.
“Our comrade Noah Mutwe Mitala has been granted cash bail of UGX 5 million after spending over 60 days in detention… WE SHALL OVERCOME,” posted NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya on X (formerly Twitter), describing the bail amount as prohibitive and unjustified for an ordinary Ugandan.
Mutwe’s arrest and prolonged detention have drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures, human rights defenders, and legal analysts who view the case as part of an ongoing crackdown on political dissent in Uganda.
Legal experts note a pattern of increased use of incitement and malicious communication laws against journalists, opposition leaders, and activists, raising red flags about selective prosecution and freedom of speech violations.
Mutwe’s release has re-energized the #FreeAllPoliticalPrisonersUganda campaign, which calls for the unconditional release of detained opposition supporters. NUP accuses the government of weaponizing the judiciary to frustrate their grassroots mobilization and silence dissenting voices.
“Many of our comrades are held on trumped-up charges, without fair trial, in inhumane conditions, and for far too long. This is not justice, it’s persecution,” Rubongoya said in a press briefing following the court session.
While the Ugandan government insists that its actions are aimed at upholding national security and law enforcement, critics argue that the judicial system is being used to erode civil liberties and democracy.
The developments come at a time of heightened political activity, with the 2026 general elections less than a year away. NUP leaders claim that arrests such as Mutwe’s are part of a wider strategy by the ruling regime to weaken the opposition’s operational strength ahead of the polls.
Despite mounting pressure, NUP has vowed to continue its mobilization and public engagement across the country.
“We shall not give up. The cost is high, but the cause is just.”
As the political landscape heats up, the case of Noah Mutwe serves as both a cautionary tale and a rallying call for opposition supporters demanding transparency, accountability, and respect for constitutional rights.
Also read: DPP Drops All Charges Against Former Rubaga RDC Herbert Burora
