Kampala, Uganda – Uganda’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, has issued a strong condemnation of torture and abuse following the court appearance of Edward Ssebuufu, commonly known as Eddie Mutwe, a close aide and bodyguard of National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine.
Mutwe was produced in Masaka Chief Magistrate’s Court on May 5, 2025, where he appeared frail and bore visible signs of physical abuse. He was charged with assaulting police officers and malicious damage to government property in relation to a campaign incident in Kyotera District, then subsequently remanded.
In a formal statement dated May 5, Minister Mao emphasized that the presumption of innocence is “unequivocal and non-negotiable.”
He condemned the production of “illegally detained, brutalized and tortured suspects” before courts, describing such actions as a grave abuse of judicial process and a violation of constitutional rights.
“No citizen should be subjected to any punishment unless found guilty after due process in the courts of law,” Mao stated. “The courts must act swiftly and handle these matters expeditiously based on precedent.”
Mao invoked a landmark decision by Justice Ralph Ochan in the case of Uganda vs Robert Ssekabira and 10 others, where charges were dropped due to severe rights violations.
Justice Ochan, in that ruling, warned against allowing prosecutions “mounted and conducted in the midst of such flagrant, egregious and mala fide violations of the Constitution.”
The Minister’s remarks arrive amid mounting concern over the rising trend of abductions and torture of opposition figures by security forces.
Mutwe’s condition and arrest triggered public outrage, with social media flooded by images of his injuries and demands for accountability.
To bolster human rights protections, Mao announced that his ministry has finalized the National Action Plan for Human Rights, which will soon be tabled before Cabinet.
Additionally, a Cabinet Standing Committee on Human Rights has been established to process complaints and ensure redress through formal channels. The ministry also plans to launch a toll-free line for the public to report human rights violations.
Despite the strong words, Mao’s statement has been met with mixed reactions. Critics argue that his intervention came too late, after Mutwe had already been charged and remanded.
Others accuse him of remaining silent during critical early moments when state actors allegedly violated constitutional guarantees.
Mao concluded his statement by calling for principled leadership from all government officials, regardless of political affiliation.
Quoting philosopher Edmund Burke, he reminded state actors: “Law and arbitrary power are in eternal enmity.”
As Uganda inches closer to the 2026 general elections, incidents like Mutwe’s continue to raise alarm among rights groups and opposition members about the shrinking space for political dissent and the weaponization of state institutions.
