Uganda is facing a tense moment after the presidential election, with rising fear, anger, and uncertainty spreading across the country. The situation has been made worse by public threats issued by the head of the army against opposition leader Bobi Wine, at a time when many Ugandans are already questioning the credibility of the election and the conduct of state security agencies.
President Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner of last week’s election with 71.6 percent of the vote, securing an eighth term in office at the age of 81.
His main challenger, Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, officially came second with 24 percent. Election observers and human rights groups have criticised the process, pointing to intimidation, arrests, and violence targeting opposition supporters.
Soon after the results were announced, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Museveni’s son and the head of the armed forces, made a series of posts on X that shocked many inside and outside Uganda.
In one post, he openly called for the death of the opposition leader. “We have killed 22 NUP terrorists since last week. I’m praying the 23rd is Kabobi,” he wrote, using a derogatory name to refer to Bobi Wine and his National Unity Platform party.
In another post, the army chief issued a direct ultimatum to the opposition leader, giving him “48 hours to surrender” to the police and warning that he would be treated as an outlaw if he did not comply. He later claimed that these actions were his own, distancing his father from the threats by saying, “I exonerate my great and venerable father from what I’m going to do to Kabobi (Bobi Wine).”
Inflammatory posts from Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The comments did not stop there. Kainerugaba went further by expressing disappointment with the number of people killed during the election period. He wrote: “Personally, I’m embarrassed by our record. 22 killed in one week is too low. I promise to do better.”
The statements triggered widespread condemnation and deepened fears about the role of the military in Uganda’s politics.
Bobi Wine responded by accusing security forces of targeting his home in Magere in an operation meant to harm or arrest him.
“You ordered the raid on my house to harm me,” he wrote, adding that he narrowly escaped. He also sent a strong warning to the authorities, saying,
“Anyway, I will resurface when I decide. Then you and your father can do whatever you want to me. But make no mistake You will never escape the inevitable consequences of your atrocities against the people of Uganda. This is our country.”
The opposition leader described the raid in detail, explaining how security forces cut power, interfered with surveillance cameras, and deployed helicopters around his home.
“Last night (Friday night) was very difficult at our home in Magere. The military and police raided us. They switched off the power and cut off some of our CCTV cameras. Helicopters were hovering over,” he said. His wife remains under apparent house arrest, while his own location remains unknown.
In a televised address on NTV Uganda, Wine said leaving his home allowed him “to speak to the world,” though he did not reveal where he was. At the same time, arrests of opposition members continued. At least 118 NUP members were charged in Kampala, with party officials insisting they were targeted despite being accredited polling agents.
“They even had letters confirming that they were polling agents of NUP. They were targeted and arrested violently,” said NUP secretary-general David Rubongoya.
Protests that broke out in parts of Kampala were quickly crushed by police using teargas and arrests.
The United Nations Human Rights Office had earlier accused Ugandan security forces of using live ammunition, carrying out arbitrary arrests, and abducting opposition supporters.
