MASAKA .
The chief civilian body guard of National Unity Platform President Robert Kyagulanyi Edward Ssebuufu alias Eddie Mutwe, has been arraigned before Masaka Chief Magistrates Courts on with six counts of robbery and malicious damage to property.
Ssebuufu , 43 was dropped at Masaka Court premises by plainclothes security operatives after missing for eight days . Masaka Chief Magistrate Abdallah Kayiza on Monday read to him charges and later remanded to Masaka Main Prison.
According to the amended charge sheet, State alleges that Ssebuufu and his colleagues, Gaddafi Mugumya, Achilleo Kivumbi, and Grace Wakabi Smart –all civilian body guards of Mr Kyagulanyi on May 18 , together with others still at a large robbed a Masaka-based female Journalist, Ms Margret Kayondo, who works for Radio Simba. The items stolen, including a green sweater and a mobile phone (Camon12), were valued at Shs730 , 000 at Manja Village in Lwengo District.
The accused are said to have used lethal weapons, such as sharp knives and clubs, during the robbery. The court also heard that immediately after the said robbery, the quartet assaulted Ms Zainab Namusaazi, another Masaka-based female correspondent for Next Media Group. In the ensuing scuffle, Namusaazi’s video camera, worth Shs1.5 million, was reportedly smashed.
The incident allegedly occurred at Manja Village, Kisekka Sub County in Lwengo District, where the journalists had been covering a funeral for UK-based businessman Pascal Ssekasamba, who died of heart-related complications last year .
The late Ssekasamba was the younger brother of former Democratic Party (DP) Secretary General Mathias Nsubuga, who died in 2016.
Court records indicate that the victims became caught in a scuffle when Kyagulanyi’s bodyguards attempted to block journalists from covering the funeral proceedings.
Further court records revealed that the group including Eddie Mutwe also allegedly stole Shs200,000 from Rodgers Mulungi and John Mukalaazi, in addition to assaulting Drake Lubega and Haruna Ssekitto, whose mobile phones were reportedly stolen at the same funeral.
The state prosecutor Mr Michael Wakosesa told court that investigations into the cases are still ongoing and sought an adjournment.
The presiding magistrate concurred with prosecution and adjourned the matter to May 25 2025 when Ssebuufu is expected to return in court for further mention of his cases.
Ssebuufu’s prosecution comes after his three co-accused lasted in late February have already been committed to High Court for trial in the next convenient High Court session.
Mr Magellan Kazibwe , a lawyer to accused who was first blocked to access court premises , said his client was visibly weak after being tortured by security operatives.
“He was walking with difficulty –an indication that he was tortured while in the hands of the Army .We are worried by his weak state, and we are going to ensure that he gets medical attention as soon as possible ,”
Ssebuufu was abducted by security operatives attached to Special Forces Command (SFC) , an elite unit guarding the President on April 27.
His whereabouts remained unknown for five days until last Thursday night when the Chief of Defense Forces and first son Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba made a series of controversial posts on X (formerly Twitter) including a photo of a man resembling Mutwe, half-naked.
In one post, Gen Muhoozi claimed Ssebuufu was being held in his basement “learning Runyankore” and said, “Now I’m practising on his so-called ‘military commander’. Using him as a punching bag.”
Muhoozi’s comments drew widespread public condemnation and it could be the reason why he was secretly arraigned in court where Journalists were barred from covering the proceedings.