Political Analyst Charles Rwomushana Picked Up by Armed Men at Radio Simba

Former intelligence operative and political commentator Charles Rwomushana was picked up by armed men in plainclothes while appearing on a radio talk show at Radio Simba in Kampala on Saturday.

Radio Simba confirmed mid-morning that Rwomushana had been taken from its premises at Plot 2, Corporation Rise, in Kampala’s Bukoto neighbourhood. He was appearing on the station’s Saturday political programme, Gasimbagane ne Bannamawulire, loosely translated as “Face Off with Journalists,” when the armed men seized him.

Phone video footage later showed at least four armed men dragging Rwomushana out of the station as he held a notebook in his hand. One of the men appeared to be carrying a pistol, while another was seen with a larger firearm. A woman also appeared to be seeking an audience with the armed men, while two other men looked helpless as the daytime seizure unfolded.

The men then swiftly took Rwomushana away from the radio station. By midday Saturday, the circumstances surrounding his arrest remained unclear. Neither the police nor the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) had publicly explained the reasons for his seizure.

Rwomushana is a prominent and highly controversial political commentator and analyst whose name has surfaced in documents related to the ongoing trial of veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye, his aide Obed Lutale and Captain [name unclear]. The three are facing treason-related charges.

Rwomushana has on several occasions, while appearing on local media, downplayed reports linking him to the case. It was also not immediately clear whether his seizure was connected to the ongoing trial.

This is a developing story.