The Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has sparked outrage after calling for the execution of opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye by hanging.
In a series of since-deleted posts on X (formerly Twitter) on January 16, Gen. Muhoozi stated that Besigye would be hanged on Heroes’ Day in Gulu, referring to him as a “traitor.”
“We will hang KB on Heroes’ Day. That’s the best day for him to die,” he wrote. He further threatened to arrest anyone in government who had spoken ill of his uncle, General Salim Saleh.
Heroes’ Day, observed on June 9, honors individuals who sacrificed their lives during the guerrilla war that brought President Museveni to power in 1986.
Dr. Besigye, a retired Colonel, was Museveni’s personal physician during the war and played a key role in saving the lives of injured fighters, including Museveni’s brother, Gen. Saleh, and former army chief Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu.
Besigye is currently facing charges in a military court, including treachery, which carries the death penalty under Ugandan law. He was arrested in Nairobi on November 16 and extradited to Uganda under controversial circumstances.
Gen. Muhoozi’s comments have drawn widespread condemnation. Critics have accused him of abusing his position as a serving military officer, particularly given that Uganda’s Constitution and the UPDF Act prohibit active military personnel from engaging in political commentary.
Human rights groups and Besigye’s supporters have expressed alarm over Muhoozi’s inflammatory remarks, which come amid a politically charged environment. Winnie Byanyima, Besigye’s wife and a prominent activist, decried the military’s actions, calling the charges politically motivated.
“President Museveni and his son run the army. The military court falls under them. They are both the accusers and judges in my husband’s case,” Byanyima said. She pledged to continue supporting Besigye and described him as a “true hero of Uganda and Africa.”
Gen. Muhoozi has a history of controversial social media activity, including threats to invade Nairobi, Sudan, and expel the US Ambassador to Uganda. However, his recent comments about Besigye have intensified concerns over the politicization of Uganda’s military and judiciary systems.
The situation has drawn international scrutiny, with calls for Uganda to uphold justice and protect political freedoms.
