Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine said on Wednesday his bodyguard had been personally tortured by the president’s son, days after the aide’s detention provoked national outrage.There has been a mounting crackdown on the opposition ahead of the general election in January and the news of the aide’s capture came as Wine was set to launch a “protest vote” campaign.General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son and heir-apparent of long-ruling President Yoweri Museveni, as well as head of the army, claimed last week to have captured Wine’s bodyguard, Eddie Mutwe. He said he was holding Mutwe “in my basement” and “using him as a punching bag”.The posts on X, of which Kainerugaba is a frequent and notorious user, provoked outrage in the east African nation. Mutwe was finally presented in court on Monday.Justice Minister Norbert Mao said at the time that he showed “signs of having been tortured” in a post on X.Wine said he and Mutwe’s family visited him on Wednesday in Masaka Main Prison, and found him in “great pain”.”He was brutalised in the most barbaric manner. He was electrocuted. He was subjected to water boarding,” he posted on X, adding that Mutwe was flogged four times a day and given only one meal a day.”Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Keinerugaba, came on the third day and personally participated in the torture,” Wine said.”Eddie Mutwe should not be in jail. He should be in a hospital,” he added, condemning the detention of several other activists.Uganda has faced international condemnation over the abduction of opposition figures, including that of veteran leader Kizza Besigye, who was seized in Kenya last year and forcibly returned to face treason charges.Wine, a former singer whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has become the leading opponent to Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986.Uganda is set to hold a general election in January, with Museveni looking to extend his 40-year rule. The last election in 2021 was marred by widespread reports of irregularities and severe violence from the security forces, which Museveni blamed on “indiscipline” and “laziness”.Kainerugaba is notorious for his unfiltered posts on X, and earlier this year threatened to behead Wine in one of many online spats.
