Achilleo Kivumbi, the bodyguard of National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), has been released on bail.
The High Court granted Kivumbi bail with a cash requirement of UGX 2,000,000, while his sureties were each required to provide UGX 10,000,000, though not in cash.
As part of the bail conditions, Kivumbi is required to report to the court every 14 days on Fridays and must not leave Kampala or Wakiso district without prior court approval. Failure to comply could lead to his re-arrest.
Kivumbi was abducted on August 1 and subsequently remanded on charges of illegal possession of military property. Upon his release, reports surfaced that military insignia had been planted on him, leading to further charges of unlawful possession of military equipment. He was later presented before a military court.
The NUP celebrated Kivumbi’s return, but Bobi Wine expressed deep concerns about the broader implications of his bodyguard’s detention. Wine condemned the government’s actions, arguing that Kivumbi’s ordeal highlights ongoing lawlessness in Uganda. He also noted that Kivumbi spent nearly three months in illegal detention and called attention to other political prisoners enduring similar fates.
In a social media statement, Bobi Wine urged the public to raise awareness and take action against the current regime’s practices. He called on those who value justice to speak out against the treatment of political prisoners and to support the fight for political freedoms in Uganda. He emphasized the need for solidarity, asserting that everyone with a conscience should oppose the government’s actions.
