Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi has launched a sharp attack on Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, accusing him of promoting lawlessness and intimidation following remarks linked to the alleged abduction of lawyer Erias Lukwago.
Addressing the press, Ssenyonyi questioned Muhoozi’s authority and condemned statements in which the military chief reportedly mocked Lukwago’s ordeal and suggested he was being held in a “basement.”
The opposition leader said such remarks, coupled with past threats, raise serious concerns about abuse of power and disregard for the rule of law.
“He said he killed 22 NUP supporters and he wants to kill others. Muhoozi, who the hell do you think you are?” Ssenyonyi said. “To break the law in such a wanton manner, and act as though the lives of Ugandans are in your hands, is unacceptable.”
Ssenyonyi further accused the general of normalising threats of violence and unlawful detention, warning that such conduct undermines democratic institutions and public trust.
He insisted that opposition figures and citizens would not be intimidated into silence.
“We are not going to be intimidated and for everyone to shrink when this man is breaking every law in the books,” he said. “It’s not acceptable.”
The opposition leader also took issue with Muhoozi’s controversial social media posts, in which he has previously made religious references. Ssenyonyi criticised what he described as attempts to justify alleged abuses using religious rhetoric.
“You’ll see him post and say, ‘Me, I’m a descendant of Jesus Christ,’ as if to insinuate that he is committing these atrocities in the name of God,” he said. “This nonsense has got to stop.”
Drawing historical parallels, Ssenyonyi referenced past conflicts where violence was carried out under religious pretexts, including actions by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
He warned against any narrative that could legitimise violence through faith.
“We have seen groups kill in the name of God before. That is what Muhoozi seems to be doing—committing atrocities and breaking the law under that guise. As a people, we must reject it,” he added.
The remarks come amid heightened political tensions in Uganda, particularly surrounding the treatment of opposition figures and increasing scrutiny of security agencies.
Lukwago’s alleged abduction has sparked public debate and renewed calls for accountability within the military and police.
By directly confronting one of the country’s most powerful security figures, Ssenyonyi’s statements signal a growing willingness among opposition leaders to challenge what they describe as escalating authoritarian tendencies.