Fresh outrage has erupted in Uganda after President Yoweri Museveni’s son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, made inflammatory remarks suggesting violence against opposition leader Bobi Wine and members of the National Unity Platform (NUP), just days after the disputed general election results were announced.
Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has not been seen publicly since the electoral commission declared Museveni the winner, sparking fears over his safety. Sources within NUP say the opposition leader has been forced into hiding amid an intense security crackdown that has included raids on party offices, arrests of supporters, and heavy military deployment in Kampala and other major towns.
The situation escalated after Muhoozi, the Chief of Defence Forces, posted a series of comments on X (formerly Twitter) that appeared to endorse violence against opposition figures. One post widely shared online suggested that Bobi Wine and NUP supporters should be “dealt with,” remarks that human rights groups and political observers have described as dangerous and unconstitutional.
International concern has continued to mount. On Monday, the United States and several European diplomats renewed calls for restraint, respect for human rights, and the protection of opposition leaders. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have also warned that Uganda is sliding deeper into repression, citing enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions reported since the vote.
Closer to home, religious leaders and civil society organisations have urged Museveni to rein in his son and restore calm, warning that such rhetoric from the military leadership risks plunging the country into instability.
As Uganda awaits Bobi Wine’s next move, the silence surrounding his whereabouts has only heightened tension. For many Ugandans, the unfolding events reinforce long-standing fears about shrinking democratic space and the growing role of the military in civilian politics.
By tuko