By MONITOR

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A Ugandan court has slapped treason charges on the bodyguard of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine.

Edward Sebuufu alias Eddie Mutwe alongside Mr Musa Ssenyange, a driver and machine operator, were on Tuesday charged with treason before Gulu's Grade One Magistrate Yunus Ndiwalana.

The state contends that the two and others used a grader to block President Yoweri Museveni's convoy in Arua Municipality last month.

The indictment comes a day after High court in Kampala ordered their unconditional release as they were being held illegally since their arrest on August 25.

The judge ordered the two be remanded at Gulu Central prison until October 1 and will appear in court along with 33 others on similar charges.

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Mr Kyagulanyi is currently in the US where he went for specialised treatment after he was reportedly tortured by security operatives in Uganda.

Last week, he said he was determined to return to Kampala despite being indicted for treason.

Mr Kyagulanyi, 36, said he would return after treatment for injuries he sustained when Ugandan police detained and beat him.

"I want to go home. I want to continue to call upon all Ugandans to stand up for what they believe in," said the reggae star, who entered parliament as an independent MP last year.

He was arrested last month after some of his supporters allegedly stoned President Museveni's car during Arua Municipality MP elections.

"There is a treason charge against me and I believe many more charges will come. I know I could go to prison, I still could be hanged and I also know I could be illegally assassinated. My driver was shot and killed while sitting in the same spot I'd been sitting just a few seconds before. I know everything is possible in Uganda," the MP told AFP.

Mr Kyagulanyi has become a lightning rod for opposition sentiment against Mr Musaveni, the 74-year-old president who has been in power since 1986.