Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has fired back at National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, in an escalating political exchange that follows renewed tensions over Uganda’s opposition politics.
In a sharp statement, Muhoozi questioned Bobi Wine’s leadership credentials, accusing him of abandoning his political base shortly after the January elections and spending months abroad.
“Imagine a 46-year-old so-called leader of the opposition, who mobilises people to vote for him and his party and then escapes to the USA, 9 days after the elections and remains there on holiday for 6 months. Leaving his party without any direction,” Muhoozi said.
The remarks appear to be a direct response to Bobi Wine’s earlier criticism of Muhoozi, in which the opposition leader accused the military chief of undermining discipline within the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and disrespecting the office he holds.
The exchange marks a fresh escalation in the long-running political rivalry between the two figures, who have frequently traded accusations on social media and in public statements.
Bobi Wine, who has consistently challenged President Yoweri Museveni’s government since entering mainstream politics, has in the past alleged that state security agencies target opposition supporters and restrict political freedoms—claims the government has repeatedly dismissed.
Muhoozi, who has increasingly taken an active role in public political commentary alongside his military duties, has also faced criticism from opposition figures and rights activists who accuse him of blurring the line between military leadership and partisan politics.
The latest remarks are expected to further intensify political rhetoric ahead of the next electoral cycle, with both sides continuing to frame each other as symbols of either resistance or state authority.