The Chief of Defense Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has harshly criticized a release order from the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) directing him to release Edward Rogers Ssebufu, also known as Eddie Mutwe, describing it as a “stupid letter.”
Responding to the UHRC directive via his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, Gen. Kainerugaba issued a stern warning to the Commission and demanded a formal apology.
“If these people value the lives we gave them, they MUST NEVER even think of sending me such a STUPID letter again! This is their last warning! I expect an apology,” Kainerugaba posted.
On May 2, 2025, UHRC Chairperson Mariam Wangadya issued a formal release order instructing Gen. Kainerugaba and the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) to release Ssebufu immediately. The Commission stated it was satisfied that Ssebufu was being unlawfully detained or restricted.
Wangadya warned that failure to comply with the directive could amount to contempt of the Commission under Article 53(1)(d) of the Constitution.
The release order followed Gen. Kainerugaba’s public admission that Ssebufu, the chief civilian bodyguard of National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, was currently in his custody. In a controversial remark, Kainerugaba said that Mutwe was “in his basement, learning Runyankore.”
The UHRC has yet to respond to Gen. Kainerugaba’s demands or his latest statement.
