National Unity Platform (NUP) president Bobi Wine has condemned the alleged abduction and detention of Matthew Bagonza, a close associate of President Yoweri Museveni’s son-in-law, Odrek Rwabwogo.
Bagonza was reportedly taken from his home in Entebbe on Tuesday, August 25, amid an escalating dispute involving Rwabwogo, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID).
In a statement, Bobi Wine described the incident as another example of what he called Uganda’s deteriorating human rights situation.
“ANOTHER BRUTAL ABDUCTION: Uganda's lawless regime struck again this week. On Tuesday, August 25th, regime operatives abducted one Matthew Bagonza from his home in Entebbe,” Bobi Wine said.
The NUP leader alleged that Bagonza had subsequently been held incommunicado and denied access to his lawyers, relatives and medical attention.
“He has since been held incommunicado in an unknown place, completely denied access to his lawyers, family, and medical care,” he said.
Bobi Wine also accused Muhoozi of humiliating the detained man after photographs purporting to show Bagonza in a vulnerable and degrading state were circulated online.
«“Museveni’s brutal son, in his characteristic vile manner, posted pictures of him naked!” Bobi Wine alleged, condemning what he described as an attack on Bagonza’s dignity.»
The opposition leader stressed that Bagonza was not an opposition activist, but was instead associated with Rwabwogo, who heads PACEID.
“Matthew Bagonza is not a figure within the opposition. He is, in fact, a close associate of Museveni’s son-in-law, Odrek Rwabogo,” Bobi Wine said.
His remarks come as Muhoozi has publicly clashed with Rwabwogo over PACEID. Muhoozi has declared the committee illegal and threatened action against people linked to it, while also warning that Rwabwogo could be arrested.
Bobi Wine argued that the alleged detention demonstrated that security abuses could affect people regardless of their political loyalties.
“As we have consistently said, no matter who you are or who you work for in Uganda, the breakdown of the rule of law affects us all,” he said.
He called for Bagonza and others allegedly being held incommunicado to be released or brought before a competent court.
“We strongly condemn this illegal detention and the sickening abuse of power. We demand that Matthew Bagonza, like all those still detained incommunicado, is released or produced in a competent court of law,” Bobi Wine said.
He also renewed his call for political change, arguing that restoring the rule of law would make Uganda safer for all citizens.