Uganda’s post-election tensions deepened on Monday after the country’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, issued threats against opposition leader Bobi Wine, demanding that he surrender to police within 48 hours following last week’s disputed presidential election.
Kainerugaba, who is the son of long-serving President Yoweri Museveni and widely viewed as his preferred successor, said in a series of posts on X that he was praying for Wine’s death and warned that failure to surrender would see the opposition figure treated as an “outlaw.” He referred to Wine by the derogatory nickname “Kabobi” and claimed that dozens of supporters of Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) had been killed since the election.
In a post, Kainerugaba said in a reference to Wine’s National Unity Platform party: “We have killed 22 NUP terrorists since last week. I’m praying the 23rd is Kabobi.”
Bobi Wine, a former pop star turned politician, fled his home hours before Museveni was declared the landslide winner of the vote. Wine, who finished second in the race, has alleged widespread electoral fraud and has since issued statements from undisclosed locations, saying his life is in danger following a military raid on his residence.
Uganda’s police sought to distance themselves from the military chief’s remarks. Police spokesperson Kituma Rusoke said Wine was not being sought by law enforcement, contradicting Kainerugaba’s ultimatum.
The election followed a tense campaign marked by repeated clashes between security forces and opposition supporters. Several incidents of post-election violence have been reported, including the killing of opposition supporters by police in disputed circumstances. While fears of mass unrest similar to deadly post-election violence seen recently in neighbouring Tanzania did not fully materialise, rights groups and opposition figures say the situation remains volatile.
Kainerugaba has a history of making inflammatory statements on social media. In previous years, he has issued threats against neighbouring countries and opposition figures, drawing criticism both domestically and internationally. He made a threat in 2022 to invade neighbouring Kenya. Despite his outspoken comments and apparent political ambitions, President Museveni has repeatedly denied grooming his son as a successor.
Meanwhile, court documents showed that at least 118 members of the National Unity Platform were charged on Monday with election-related offences, including unlawful assembly and conspiracy. The party’s secretary general, David Rubongoya, rejected allegations of violent activity, insisting that NUP members were being targeted for their political views.
Melissa Enoch
About the Author
