By Our Reporter
In a dramatic twist that has rocked Uganda’s political and security circles, Buganda Road Court has once again remanded Detective Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Charles Twine and National Unity Platform (NUP) supporter Noah Mutwe to Luzira Prison on charges of incitement to violence, hate speech, and cyber harassment.
The pair appeared before Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi, where they applied for bail, presenting a group of sureties that included close relatives and childhood friends. But their bid for temporary freedom was thwarted, with the magistrate ordering their continued detention as police complete investigations into what is shaping up to be one of the most sensational political incitement cases in recent memory.
Twine, a former high-ranking detective, is accused of using electronic communication to incite Mutwe to carry out a violent attack on President Yoweri Museveni and his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba—allegedly instructing him to use pavers as weapons. The prosecution claims the message was not only a direct threat to national leaders but also a calculated attempt to provoke political violence.
The charge sheet goes further, detailing a slew of inflammatory remarks attributed to Twine. He allegedly described Gen Muhoozi as “a fat pig and a crook,” language the state argues was intended to “ridicule, degrade, and demean” the First Son and army general. In other online posts, Twine is said to have attacked Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, branding her “a rotten human being” and accusing her of sponsoring violence in Bukedea. Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, nomadic Balaalo herdsmen, and UPDF officers like Maj Gen James Birungi also reportedly featured in his tirades.
All these remarks, the prosecution claims, violate the Computer Misuse Act and could incite public hostility, especially given the sensitive nature of the political figures involved.
Twine, 48, was first brought to court two weeks ago, where he denied the charges. Now, with his co-accused Noah Mutwe also facing similar incitement charges, the state is pressing for more time to scrutinize their sureties and solidify its case. The duo is expected back in court on June 17.
As the courtroom drama unfolds, the case is drawing significant public attention, raising serious questions about freedom of expression, political dissent, and the state’s response to perceived threats against top government officials.