Anger as Uganda president's son says he's holding opposition leader's bodyguard
Edward Sebuufu, alias Eddie Mutwe, was reportedly picked up on Sunday by unidentified individuals in both civilian clothes and military fatigues in the central town of Kiwango, sparking public outrage.
In a series of posts on X, Gen Kainerugabai, who is also Uganda's military chief, said Sebuufu was "in my basement", attaching the bodyguard's photo with a clean-shaven head.
Gen Kainerugabai's remarks have sparked public anger with Ugandans using the hashtag #FreeEddieMutwe to demand Sebuufu's release and condemn his detention.
Gen Kainerugaba frequently makes political comments, which his critics say contravenes the military's code of discipline.
The 51-year-old army general is seen as a possible successor to his long-serving father, Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, who has denied that he is grooming his son for the presidency.
Gen Kainerugaba has made many controversial statements on social media, touching on subjects considered taboo for a serving soldier.
In 2022, he made headlines for discussing an invasion of neighboring Kenya, a comment that forced his father to step in and apologize.
He recently sparked anger with a tweet in which he threatened to behead opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
Late on Thursday, he sparked another social media storm after he published a photo of Sebuufu, Bobi Wine's bodyguard, appearing half-naked and clean-shaved.
Bobi Wine said Sebuufu was on Sunday "violently abducted" from Kiwango by armed men traveling in a police van, popularly known as "drone", before he was whisked to an unknown place.
In a series of posts, Gen Kainerugaba said his soldiers had captured Sebuufu "like a grasshopper" and he was learning Runyankore, a language spoken in western Uganda, while in custody.
He said Sebuufu was "looking very smart these days" after his beard was shaved by "my boy", referring to his junior soldiers.
The general said he would only release the bodyguard if ordered to do so by his father, President Museveni.
Gen Kainerugaba did not explicitly state where Sebuufu was being held, or on what legal charges.
Security forces are yet to comment on the matter but police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke on Monday told local media that he was not aware of Sebuufu being held in any police station.
Opposition officials and social media users in Uganda have demanded the bodyguard be produced in court if he is in lawful custody.
Bobi Wine has called for a "solidarity" rally on Friday in the capital Kampala, accusing Gen Kainerugaba for "illegally holding, torturing, and dehumanizing" his bodyguard.
"This is a non-partisan opportunity to unite. Friends of Eddie and other Ugandans of good conscience, let us come together in solidarity not just with Eddie but all political prisoners!," Bobi Wine posted on X.
In a statement, the Uganda Law Society has called for the immediate release of the bodyguard, saying his ordeal was not an isolated case but "part of a systematic campaign to silence dissent and crush the aspirations of people yearning for freedom".
The society feared that the reported involvement of the army in the matter "underscores a dangerous nexus of military power and political oppression".
Sebuufu, who is in charge of Bobi Wine's personal security detail, has been arrested several times and charged with various offenses, including treason and illegal possession of ammunition. The opposition says his arrests and charges are politically motivated.
He has been a key target in several security crackdowns on opposition activities, especially during elections and mobilization campaigns, local media reported.
Bobi Wine, a popular singer who has declared his intention to challenge President Museveni for the second time in the 2026 elections, has often been prevented from holding political rallies.
There are growing concerns about the targeting of opposition figures and supporters by security agencies as political mobilization intensifies ahead of the elections.
The government has blamed the opposition for the regular clashes between civilians and the security forces, saying they hold rallies without permission. — BBC
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
England started the Euros being doubted - but showed resolve, resilience and relentlessness
Being with the Lionesses before they boarded their bus - for a late night of partying - was to intrude in celebrations but glimpse into the mindset of champions.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Should You Buy XRP (Ripple) While It's Under $5?
Key Points XRP's value has surged nearly 480% in just 12 months. Deregulation, ETFs, and general crypto enthusiasm are driving the coin's value higher. XRP is priced for perfection, and it's looking increasingly like a speculative gamble. 10 stocks we like better than XRP › Cryptocurrency XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) has gained lots of attention from investors lately, resulting in a 480% increase over the past year. Whenever any type of investment rises that quickly, it's worth evaluating to see if it's worth owning. Unlike some cryptocurrencies, XRP (sometimes called Ripple) has real-world applications through its blockchain, which can act as a bridge currency in foreign transactions, saving both time and money compared to traditional financial transactions. But XRP's rapid value increase calls into question whether the crypto is overvalued right now, and if it's being driven higher simply because of investor sentiment. While XRP isn't necessarily a meme coin, here are three reasons why it may be best not to buy it right now. 1. It's very volatile If you're interested in owning cryptocurrencies, then it's likely that you're OK with some volatility. Any type of investment will have price swings, of course, but cryptocurrencies are more prone to make big movements on little to no news. While XRP isn't unique in its volatility, I think it's significant enough to dissuade some investors from owning it. Consider that back in February, XRP's value fell about 30% in just a five-week period. XRP regained its footing temporarily, but then fell 16% in just one week following the announcement of President Donald Trump's tariffs in early April. Those are just two examples of XRP's tendency toward volatility, both occurring within weeks of each other. Of course, the coin's value has subsequently rallied again, but if you're not used to investment value shifts to this degree and they might cause you undue stress or prompt you to take action without thinking, then it's probably best to stay away. 2. It's fairly speculative It's important to point out that some of the price movements XRP has experienced are tied to concrete reasons. For example, some of XRP's price gains over the past year have come from investors getting excited about crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on XRP and the Trump administration taking a more open approach toward cryptocurrencies. But while crypto ETFs can signal more legitimacy for digital coins and open them up to more investors, there's still a lot of speculating involved. Some analysts have estimated that XRP's price could surge to $25 because of the launch of the ETFs -- only to see the value then fall by 90%. While that's just a prediction, it's a good representation of how speculative the price of XRP can be. What's more, XRP's value jumped more than 70% in the past month after the House of Representatives passed the Genius Act and the Digital Markets Clarity Act in the House, both of which clarify regulations for crypto and stablecoins. While it's good news for the industry, a 70% surge in XRP's price is likely unwarranted. Huge value movements over a short period, whether for stocks or crypto, often signal that investors are pushing up an investment solely based on how they feel. 3. It's already richly valued XRP's massive run lately means this crypto is priced for perfection. Its price already includes optimism around crypto deregulation, the launch of XRP ETFs, real-world usage of its blockchain, and a general optimism that's fueling a surge in crypto prices. In short, XRP is already on a huge run based on a handful of tangible reasons, and any more gains from here are likely purely built on the whims of crypto investors. Unlike stocks, cryptocurrencies don't have cash flow or earnings to judge their value by, and based on XRP's 480% jump over the past year, it looks like the coin's price is now detached from the already speculative metrics used to judge crypto values. Could XRP still go higher? Of course. Many cryptocurrencies have shown that they can continue to climb even without being tied to any concrete metrics. But there's no getting around the fact that buying XRP means you're paying a premium. And with optimism for XRP sky-high, any unmet expectations from the crypto could cause a substantial sell-off. Should you invest $1,000 in XRP right now? Before you buy stock in XRP, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and XRP wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $636,628!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,063,471!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,041% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 183% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025 Chris Neiger has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends XRP. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Should You Buy XRP (Ripple) While It's Under $5? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Gout Gout on notice after 16-year-old rocks athletics world with epic 100m time
Aussie sprint sensation Gout Gout could have a new rival on his hands after 16-year-old Sorato Shimizu recorded the fastest-ever Under-18 100m time for a male athlete. Gout is arguably the biggest young star in athletics having just taken part in his first Diamond League meet and dazzling fans. Aussie 800m champ Peter Bol claimed Gout can eventually eclipse Usain Bolt's feats with the Queensland sprinter already showcasing his talents in front of the world at just 17 years old. However, another young star could soon be stealing the attention if he continues his trajectory. Shimizu went into the record books having lowered the 100m Under-18 record in a high school event in Japan on the weekend. The 16-year-old crossed the line in 10.00 flat, to become the joint-fifth fastest Japanese athlete ever across all ages. The Japanese star beat the previous record of 10.06. And his emergence in the athletics community could give Gout further fuel to focus and compete in the 100m event. Gout has suggested the 200m event fits his style more with the extra length giving him time to hit full stride. 10.00s at the age of 16!!!!!🤯🤯🔥🔥Sorato Shimizu 🇯🇵 storms runs a massive Age-16 World Record of 10.00s (1.7) over 100m at the Inter High School Championships in Japan!He broke the previous age-group record of 10.09s by 🇹🇭 Puripol — Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) July 26, 2025 But Gout has gone under 10 seconds twice in his young career and it just so happened to be on the same night at the national championships in Perth. Unfortunately, both times did not count as an offiical record because of wind assistance. Although there already appears to be some hype around a future showdown with Shimizu and Gout with both likely to be in their prime come the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. And in a twist, there are revelations Gout is keen to run the 100m event at the upcoming Commonwealth Games, which will then see him quickly jet to the US for the 200m at the world juniors. Fans can start to get excited for a potential showdown in the near future with Gout, Lachlan Kennedy and now Japanese star Shimizu all emerging as talents on the track. Now we want to see Shimizu vs Gout Gout 😀 — Deepak Venkatesh (@deepakvenkatesh) July 26, 2025 View this post on Instagram A post shared by 月刊陸上競技 (@getsuriku_photo) Gout Gout focusing on 200m event in 2025 While Gout is focusing on the 200m event ahead of the Tokyo World Championships in September, he hasn't ruled out competitions in the 100m sprint. After his two sub-10s runs, Gout admitted it does give him confidence. "This definitely boosts my confidence levels. Sub-10 is what every sprinter hopes for and to get it so early this year is definitely great. It also boosts my confidence for the main event for me, like the 200m,' Gout said back in May when running under 10s. Since the national championships, which Rohan Browning won with a time of 10.01, Gout has turned his attention to his favourite event. And most recently at the Golden Spike in Ostrava, Gout showed why the 200m is where he could break records. Gout chased down Reynier Mena on the straight to record a national record of 20.02 and take first place in the meet. The Aussie was a metre behind Mena as they entered the final 50 metres, but finished well ahead in what was an incredible finish to his first race in Europe. And commentator Tim Hutchings pointed out Gout's incredible back 50m run appears to be an 'optical illusion' and compared to that of Bolt. "The strongest part of his race is always the last 50 metres. He holds his form so well, it's an optical illusion. It looks like he is accelerating. But he is not, nobody does. Maybe Bolt did back then, but Gout wouldn't be, he is holding his form. As the others slow, they tire, he eases past them," Hutchings explained.
