GROWING A THICK SKIN: Wangadya’s UHRC Becomes The First Gov’t Entity To Call Out Muhoozi On Rights Abuses

She’s Mariam Fauzat Wangadya, the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission a government body mandated with matters to do with Human Rights. The commission was established under the provisions of Article 51(1) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic Of Uganda and it’s functions and powers were operationalized under the Uganda Human Rights Act of 1997.

Wangadya faced criticism two years ago when her commission failed to handle the case of the abducted supporters of National Unity Platform, some of these are in prisons, have never been tried while some are presumed dead since their whereabouts remain unknown for the last four years.

She however took a drastic U-turn when her commission started condemining Human Rights abuses by the different entities in government the latest being the Chief Of Defense Forces (CDF) Muhoozi Keinerugaba who has been accused of torturing those who disagree and some of his victims like Kakwenza Rukirabashaija having fled the country.

Following the abduction of Bobi Wine’s bodyguard Edward Sebuufu alias Eddy Mutwe over the weekend by armed men driving in a drone, Muhoozi on Thursday evening came out and revealed he’s holding him in his basement teaching Mutwe Runyankole. He went ahead and posted Mutwe’s half naked photo where he appeared tortured with his beards chopped off by his tormentors.

This was followed by a series of other mocking posts by the very powerful Army boss on his X formerly twitter account where he threw tantrums, jibes, jokes and warnings to Bobi Wine and his supporters. His tweets however caused a storm of disassociation with condemnations calling out the Army Chief to stop tagging his behaviors on Runyankole since it would caused hatred against Banyankole by the other Ugandans.

To everyone’s surprise, the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) boldly called out the Chief of Defense Forces Muhoozi Keinerugaba and ordered him to release Eddy Mutwe with immediate effect. The release order was received by his office but 17 hours later, Mutwe is still under his custody.

“Whereas Edward Rogers Ssebuufu also known as Eddie Mutwe has been in your custody since 26th April, 2025 and whereas the Commission is satisfied that he is being unlawfully detained or restricted, this is to direct you to cause the immediate release of Edward Rogers Ssebuufu from your custody failure of which, you may be liable for contempt under Article 53 (1) (d) of the Constitution”- reads part of Wangadya’s Release order to Muhoozi

WILL MUHOOZI RESPECT WANGADYA’S ORDERS? 

This is a million dollar question on whether the Chief of Defense Forces will heed to the orders and release Eddy Mutwe. Uganda Human Rights Commission is the first government entity to call out the President’s son something other agencies haven’t done before.

Even from the comments, Ugandans are wondering how Wangadya grew such a thick skin to issue an order to a person who’s considered to be untouchable. Majority are predicting that the president’s son won’t listen and won’t heed to the orders of Wangadya since not even ministers in his father’s cabinet can call him out.

Following his controversial tweets months ago, parliament’s committee on defense summoned Muhoozi to appear and explain such online behavior which majority believed put the country and it’s citizens at risk of being attacked when visiting the countries he normally mocks in his tweets.

The president’s son instead called the Members of Parliament clowns and revealed he can never appear before their committee. He further said he would instead just arrest them. He would order his PLU to organize a match to parliament to protest against the summons.

In two meetings held by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) with media owners and those who run online media outlets, the same question has always been asked on when does UCC reign in over the CDF’s controversial and poisonous tweets yet the same commission goes after other Ugandans, to the surprise of every one the commission has always avoided to answer that question.

Uganda Police and even the army he leads have always distanced themselves from Muhoozi’s tweets claiming his posts are his, don’t represent the position of the Army, Police and not even the office of the CDF but are his as an individual.

At some point during the heightened tensions in DR Congo, Muhoozi mocked Congolese, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance came out to insulate government’s position. Even Minister Okello Oryem also came out to reveal government’s position but none of them has ever condemned Muhoozi’s tweets.

During the heated Kawempe by-elections in March, as other leaders including those from NRM were condemning the acts of the Joint Anti-terrorism forces (JAT), Muhoozi came out and praised them for the work well done. Even the Minister of Internal Affairs Kahinda Otafiire condemned the brutality meted on Ugandans

It’s only Muhoozi’s Deputy Lt Gen Sam Okiding who while appearing before the parliament’s committee on defense apologized to Ugandans and the Journalists who were battered during the Kawempe by elections but the CDF himself has never been sorry either for his tweets which he sometimes deletes after backfiring or by his actions.

If you have a story in your community or an opinion article, let’s publish it. Send us an email via news@accord.co.ug. Follow our WhatsApp Channel HERE and out Telegram Channel HERE to see more of our stories.