Uganda: Gen. Muhoozi Alleges 'They' Helped Position Bobi Wine to Weaken Besigye

6 January 2025

The Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has claimed he and other military generals played a role in positioning Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, as a prominent opposition figure to diminish the influence of Dr. Kizza Besigye, the long-time opposition leader.

"It was actually our idea (me and other generals). We convinced Mzee [President Museveni] that we could use Kabobi [Bobi Wine] to remove Besigye from being the kingpin of the opposition," Muhoozi stated in a series of tweets.

He alleged that the government provided Kyagulanyi with substantial financial support to achieve this goal but accused the NUP leader of turning against them after gaining political prominence.

"After we supported him with a lot of money (and he succeeded), he started abusing us," Muhoozi said.

The situation escalated with threats of violence: "Kabobi knows that the only person protecting him from me is my father. If Mzee(President Museveni) were not there, I would cut off his head today," he said.

The General also demanded repayment of the alleged funds, adding, "Before I behead you, repay us the money we loaned you."

Muhoozi's statements have sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about Uganda's political climate, with observers questioning the implications of such threats from a high-ranking military officer.

These remarks bring into question the neutrality of the UPDF in Uganda's political affairs, as Muhoozi admitted to actively shaping the country's op

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