Uganda’s political climate has become increasingly volatile following a series of deleted social media posts by Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni. The posts, made on Monday night, contained explicit threats against supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and its leader, Bobi Wine. Muhoozi, in the now-deleted tweets, claimed that several NUP supporters had already been killed during the country’s recent general elections, and ominously stated that the death toll would rise.
He went further, declaring that security forces would “kill on sight all NUP ‘foot soldiers'” and that the NUP would be “extinguished from our land.” These remarks quickly sparked outrage online, but the posts were deleted within hours. Ugandan authorities have yet to issue an official response to Muhoozi’s threatening messages.
The online exchange between Muhoozi and Bobi Wine occurred in the aftermath of the January 15 presidential election, where Museveni was declared the winner with 72% of the vote, while Wine, the leading opposition figure, received 25%. Wine rejected the results, alleging widespread ballot stuffing and rigging. After reports of a raid on his residence by security forces, Wine went into hiding. He claimed that the police and military had cut the power, disabled CCTV cameras, and placed his family under house arrest.
Muhoozi, who has been an outspoken supporter of his father, resurfaced on social media with a series of messages targeting Wine and the NUP. In his tweets, Muhoozi claimed that 22 NUP supporters had been killed and added that he was “praying the 23rd is Kabobi,” referring to Wine. He also issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Wine to surrender to the police, threatening that failure to comply would result in Wine being treated as an outlaw.
The re-election outcome, Muhoozi proclaimed, was “foretold,” and he referred to himself as a “prophet,” insisting that the NUP would be removed from Uganda “like a bad dream.”
Bobi Wine responded by rejecting Muhoozi’s accusations and asserting that more than 100 of his supporters had been killed during the election period. Wine accused soldiers stationed at his home of harassment and mistreatment, alleging that they had replaced his home’s padlocks with chains and left his family without food. Wine declared that he would emerge from hiding when he chose, dismissing Muhoozi’s threats as a sign of panic.
This online confrontation has garnered significant attention, both regionally and internationally. CNN correspondent Larry Madowo drew attention to Muhoozi’s posts, noting the violent rhetoric directed at a presidential challenger. The exchange has raised serious concerns regarding freedom of expression, the safety of opposition figures, and the shrinking space for dissent in Uganda’s post-election environment.
While Muhoozi’s posts were deleted, they continue to circulate online, fueling the ongoing political tension in the country. With Wine still in hiding and the situation remaining fluid, the situation in Uganda remains tense, with many questioning the future of political freedoms and opposition voices in the country.
