Political analyst Charles Rwomushana was arrested by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers on Saturday while taking part in a live political talk show.

Rwomushana, a regular panelist on Radio Simba 97.3 FM’s Saturday programme Gasimbagane Ne Bannamawulire, which airs at 10:00 am, was detained at around 10:30 am shortly after the show began.

According to Catherine Nsibiha, the station’s security guard on duty, two Toyota Noah vehicles parked in the outer parking lot at about 10:00 am and remained there for roughly 20 minutes.

One plain-clothed person got out, did not sign the visitors’ book, and told her they were waiting for someone inside the offices.

Minutes later, a group of uniformed soldiers and others in plain clothes forced their way onto the premises and took up strategic positions.

About five officers went straight to the reception and compelled the receptionist to grant them access to the studios, where they seized Rwomushana.

“They did not sign in our visitors’ book, nor did they introduce themselves or say who they wanted. One immediately closed the gate. The others grabbed the receptionist and forced their way to the studios where they pulled him out, holding him by both sides of his trousers. I urged them not to beat him; one soldier slapped me to shut up,” Nsibiha said.

Receptionist Christine Namubiru described the incident as horrific.

She said the officers put her at gunpoint the moment she asked why they wanted access to the studios.

“When I asked why they wanted to go on air, one pulled me from my chair and forced me to open the door. The others ordered all my colleagues to stay where they were, while some surrounded the entire building and took Rwomushana away,” Namubiru said.

By press time, the UPDF had not issued any statement on the arrest.

This is the second time Rwomushana has been arrested in connection with a media appearance.

On the night of 28 July 2020, shortly after appearing on the Barometer talk show at NBS Television studios in Kamwokya, police detained him for allegedly violating COVID-19 curfew restrictions.

He was later released on Shs200,000 cash bail by the City Hall Court in Kampala.

Although no charges have yet been disclosed, Rwomushana is among those reportedly linked to the treason case against Dr. Kizza Besigye.

He is said to have attended meetings in Brussels, Belgium, allegedly aimed at overthrowing the Government of Uganda.

According to the summary of evidence by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Thomas Jatiko, People’s Front for Freedom’s Salaam Musumba arranged a meeting in Brussels with Kurdish private investigator Andrew Wilson.

Those invited included Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, Salaam Musumba, Ssemujju Nganda, Lubega Mukaku and Charles Rwomushana.

Nganda and Salaam remain at large.