Amid growing public anguish over the reappearance of Edward Sebuufu, better known as Eddie Mutwe, in military custody, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Patrick Oboi Amuriat has told the National Unity Platform (NUP) to stop lamenting and start acting.
Mutwe, the personal bodyguard to NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine), had been missing for weeks under circumstances widely believed to involve state security forces. His images, released by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Commander in Chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, reignited outrage across social media platforms, with users demanding answers over his alleged abduction and continued detention.
In a strongly worded post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Amuriat took aim at the NUP leadership—specifically Kyagulanyi, Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, and Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi—criticizing them for what he called empty lamentations.
“Lamentations got overboard. @NUP_Ug is the official opposition. You must lead in restoring public trust in Uganda. Crying out here & nothing happens? Act differently. @drstellanyanzi gives a clue,” Amuriat posted.
His comments have stirred fresh debate on the opposition’s approach to government repression, with some Ugandans applauding his call for action while others warned against infighting within the opposition.
“We need unity, not division. The opposition must come together to challenge the regime effectively,” one social media user said. Another replied, “Public criticism only benefits the regime. These matters should be discussed internally.”
This is not the first time Amuriat has challenged NUP’s approach. In earlier engagements, including a meeting with the Democratic Alliance, he expressed dismay at what he described as NUP’s failure to lead efforts on electoral reforms and opposition strategy.
“This is something that we had expected our friends from the National Unity Platform (NUP) to be leading,” he said.
Political analyst Nicholas Opiyo has also commented on the apparent fragmentation within the opposition, citing poor coordination and weak grassroots mobilization as major obstacles in confronting President Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM).
As calls for Mutwe’s release grow louder, and the government continues to justify its actions without transparency, Amuriat’s demand for action over lamentation is adding urgency to the broader conversation about the opposition’s role in holding power to account.