Mariam Wangadya, Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), has publicly expressed regret for initially disbelieving reports about the disappearance of Edward Ssebuufu, also known as Eddie Mutwe, Robert Kyagulanyi’s chief bodyguard.
Last week, the opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), led by Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), announced that Mutwe had gone missing under mysterious circumstances.
The Chief of Defense Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, later confirmed via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account that Mutwe was being held in a basement by soldiers from the Special Forces Command (SFC).
Wangadya, speaking through Pauline Nansamba Mutumba, UHRC’s Director of Complaints, Investigations, and Legal Department, explained that she initially dismissed the reports as mere rumors from social media until credible sources confirmed the information.
She emphasized that the UHRC is actively investigating Mutwe’s arrest and is committed to securing justice for him.
In her remarks, Wangadya also acknowledged the vital role of digital journalism in serving as a watchdog, helping to uncover and verify critical information in real-time.
Her comments were made during an event at the Uganda Law Society (ULS) honoring Daily Monitor’s senior photographer, Abubaker Lubowa.
ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde praised Lubowa’s photography for capturing Uganda’s unvarnished truth, reminding the public that honest reporting depends on integrity, not fabrication.
Additionally, Robert Sempala, Executive Director of the Human Rights Network for Journalists in Uganda, encouraged Lubowa to mentor emerging photojournalists to produce authentic images that reflect societal realities.
By Ben Musanje
8th May 2025
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