Political analyst Charles Rwomushana was seized by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers on early Saturday morning during a live appearance on Radio Simba 97.3 FM’s morning talk show, Gasimbagane Ne Bannamawulire. He was taken about 30 minutes into the 10am broadcast.
Station security guard Catherine Nsibiha said two Toyota Noah vehicles parked outside for roughly 20 minutes before a plain-clothed individual approached, skipped the visitors’ log, and claimed to be waiting for someone inside. Soon after, armed soldiers and plain-clothed operatives stormed the building, took up positions around it, and had several officers force their way past reception into the studio to grab Rwomushana. Nsibiha said she was slapped for pleading with them not to harm him, and that he was dragged out by his trousers.
Receptionist Christine Namubiru called the episode terrifying, saying she was threatened at gunpoint when she questioned the officers’ intent to access the studio, then physically pulled from her seat and made to open the door while colleagues were ordered to stay put.
The UPDF had made no public comment on the arrest by press time. This marks Rwomushana’s second media-related arrest, he was previously detained in July 2020 after a NBS Television appearance for allegedly breaching COVID-19 curfew rules, and released on bail.
No charges have been announced this time, but Rwomushana has reportedly been named in the treason case against Dr. Kizza Besigye, allegedly for attending a Brussels meeting, organized by People’s Front for Freedom’s Salaam Musumba with Kurdish investigator Andrew Wilson said to be aimed at plotting against the Ugandan government. Prosecution evidence names other invitees including Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, Ssemujju Nganda, and Lubega Mukaku, with Nganda and Musumba currently at large.
