Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has drawn sharp criticism after saying he was praying for the death of opposition leader Bobi Wine and giving him 48 hours to surrender to police following the country’s disputed presidential election.
The remarks, posted on social media and later reported by Reuters, came days after President Yoweri Museveni was declared the landslide winner of the vote, extending his nearly four decades in power. Bobi Wine, a former pop star turned politician, said he went into hiding after soldiers raided his home hours before the results were announced.
Despite Kainerugaba’s comments, Ugandan police said Bobi Wine was not being sought.
Police spokesperson Kituma Rusoke said Monday night that authorities were not pursuing the opposition leader, contradicting the military chief’s ultimatum and adding to confusion surrounding the government’s position.
Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has accused security forces of harassment and intimidation throughout the campaign. His party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), had challenged Museveni in one of the most contentious elections in Uganda’s recent history.
The election followed a tense campaign marked by repeated confrontations between security forces and opposition supporters. Police and soldiers frequently used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse Bobi Wine’s rallies, according to Reuters and rights groups.
Several incidents of post-election violence were also reported. In one case, police killed several opposition supporters in central Uganda under disputed circumstances.
However, large-scale unrest on the level seen in neighboring Tanzania — where hundreds, and possibly thousands, were killed after elections in October — did not materialize in Uganda, easing some regional fears of mass violence.
Kainerugaba, 51, is no stranger to controversy. The general, who is also Museveni’s son, has a long history of making provocative and inflammatory statements on social media.
In 2022, he threatened to invade neighboring Kenya, triggering a diplomatic backlash. Last year, he claimed he was holding Bobi Wine’s bodyguard in his basement and threatened to castrate him. The bodyguard was later charged with robbery, though the military chief’s remarks drew widespread condemnation.
Kainerugaba has openly spoken about his political ambitions and desire to succeed his father. Museveni, now 81, has repeatedly denied grooming his son for the presidency, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, pressure on the opposition intensified this week. Court documents showed that at least 118 members of the National Unity Platform were charged on Monday with election-related offenses, including unlawful assembly and conspiracy.
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NUP Secretary General David Rubongoya rejected the accusations, saying party members were not involved in violent activity and accusing authorities of using the legal system to suppress dissent.
The military chief’s remarks have renewed concerns among analysts and rights advocates about the role of Uganda’s armed forces in civilian politics and the shrinking space for opposition voices.
International observers have repeatedly criticized Uganda’s elections for irregularities, heavy security presence, and restrictions on opposition campaigning, according to Reuters and the BBC.