A political storm has erupted on Ugandan social media after Patrick Amuriat Oboi, the president of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, sharply criticized the National Unity Platform (NUP) leadership over their reaction to the recent detention of Eddie Mutwe, the longtime bodyguard of NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine.
Eddie Mutwe was abducted on April 28th and is currently being held without any charge.
Amuriat’s remarks, posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, called out Kyagulanyi, NUP Secretary-General David Lewis Rubongoya, and Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi for what he described as ineffective political lamentation.
“@HEBobiwine @DavidLRubongoya @JoelSsenyonyi 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 wrote, referring to activist Dr. Stella Nyanzi, known for her bold, often confrontational methods.
The comment ignited a wave of backlash from NUP supporters and other Ugandan netizens who accused Amuriat of hypocrisy, political irrelevance, and exploiting Mutwe’s detention to score points in opposition infighting.
“Another failed politician,” posted one user. Others accused him of “double standards” and claimed he had been silent when members of his own party were arrested or oppressed. One commenter asked, “You lamented for over 15 years, what happened?”
The verbal exchange highlights the intensifying rivalry and fragmentation within Uganda’s opposition, especially between the once-dominant FDC and the now dominant NUP, which gained momentum following Kyagulanyi’s 2021 presidential bid.
NUP now holds the position of official opposition in Parliament.
In a series of defensive replies, Amuriat insisted his critics misunderstood his call to action.
He accused NUP supporters of “recklessly abusing” allies on social media and contributing to a toxic political atmosphere.
“There are many more people still in jail. Some have actually died while in prison. The case of @EddyMutwe is just one of many thousands,” he wrote in one of his later responses, attempting to refocus attention on broader human rights concerns.
However, prominent lawyer Nicholas Opiyo weighed in, challenging Amuriat to offer tangible political ideas rather than vague criticism.
“Ladit (elder), you’ve been, at least on the face of it, in opposition politics far longer than the people you chide,” he said.
Another critic accused Amuriat of “barking like a dog that doesn’t bite” and urged unity among opposition figures rather than public squabbles.
Despite the criticism, Amuriat maintained his stance, stating: “Do you understand how difficult it is to navigate a confused political environment where the struggle has been vulgarized by people who think like you?”
Uganda’s political landscape
Uganda’s political landscape has long been dominated by President Yoweri Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), in power since 1986. The FDC, founded by veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, was once the leading opposition force. However, it has struggled in recent years amid internal divisions and the rise of the NUP, which appeals to younger, urban voters and has positioned itself as the vanguard of a new era of resistance.
The arrest of Eddie Mutwe is part of a broader crackdown on NUP members, many of whom have been jailed, beaten, or disappeared in recent years.
These tactics have drawn international condemnation, but within Uganda, opposition leaders have often clashed over strategy, messaging, and political turf, divisions that critics say undermine the broader struggle for democratic reform.
