By Adonis Byemelwa
Uganda's
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also the son
of President Yoweri Museveni, has stirred controversy with a series of
provocative statements.
His remarks, targeting prominent opposition
leader Robert Kyagulanyi (commonly known as Bobi Wine) and Lieutenant General
Peter Elwelu, as well as making threats against Sudan, have ignited both
domestic and international criticism.
General
Muhoozi recently declared on the X platform (formerly Twitter) that the only
reason he had not acted against Bobi Wine was out of respect for his father,
President Museveni.
He stated that were it not for the President,
he would have beheaded Bobi Wine, claiming the opposition leader was aware of
this threat.
Bobi
Wine, leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), responded, condemning the
threats and citing Uganda’s long history of political violence under Museveni’s
regime.
“The threat by Museveni's son and CDF to cut
off my head is not something I take lightly,” he wrote. “Considering how many
have been killed by him and his father, and the numerous attempts on my life, I
refuse to be intimidated by a regime of fear. The world is watching.”
Adding
to the controversy, General Muhoozi accused Bobi Wine of betraying the
government after allegedly receiving substantial financial support intended to
weaken another opposition figure, Kizza Besigye.
He
demanded Bobi Wine return the funds, warning of severe consequences.
Furthermore, Muhoozi ordered the military and other security agencies to detain
Bobi Wine if he ever insulted the Museveni family or the President during
public events.
In
another contentious move, General Muhoozi launched a personal attack on
Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu, a high-ranking officer in the Uganda People's
Defence Forces (UPDF).
Referring to Elwelu as a “buffoon” and
“unworthy of service,” Muhoozi threatened to arrest him and accused him of
hiding behind the President for protection.
This
public feud has highlighted growing divisions within Uganda’s military. Elwelu,
who was recently removed as Deputy CDF and reassigned as a presidential
advisor, is a controversial figure due to his role in the 2016 Kasese Massacre,
which claimed over 100 lives and led to U.S. sanctions against him.
Critics
view Muhoozi’s comments as part of a broader strategy to consolidate power and
assert dominance over Uganda’s armed forces.
On
the international stage, General Muhoozi has caused additional uproar with
remarks directed at Sudan. He provocatively suggested seizing Khartoum, the
Sudanese capital, coinciding with the inauguration of the former U.S. President
Donald Trump.
Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned
the comments, describing them as “reckless and irresponsible,” a blatant
violation of international law, and an affront to African unity. They
emphasized the threat such statements pose to regional and global stability,
urging Uganda to issue a formal apology.
Muhoozi’s
history of inflammatory remarks targeting neighboring countries, including
Kenya, Ethiopia, and Egypt, has often forced Uganda to distance itself from his
statements.
Nevertheless,
Sudan’s ongoing conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support
Forces has made such rhetoric particularly sensitive.
Sudan
has called on the international community, the African Union, and regional
bodies to denounce these threats, which they see as exacerbating an already
volatile situation.
General
Muhoozi’s controversial statements underscore deepening tensions within
Uganda’s political and military landscapes.
Observers
warn that these developments could destabilize Uganda’s governance and further
strain its relationships with neighboring countries.
The
international community is closely watching how these tensions unfold, and the
implications could shape the region’s future trajectory.
