Tension in Uganda as military chief Muhoozi threatens to kill Bobi Wine, issues 48-hour ultimatum

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the outspoken son of Museveni and head of Uganda’s armed forces, brazenly declared on X that he wanted Wine dead, days after the opposition leader said he had been forced into hiding following a security raid on his home.

Kainerugaba’s remarks came after Museveni, 81, was declared the winner of last week’s presidential election with 71.6% of the vote, securing an eighth term in office.

Opposition challenger Bobi Wine, a 43-year-old pop star-turned-politician whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, finished second with 24%, according to official results that have been widely criticised by election observers and rights groups.

"We have killed 22 NUP terrorists since last week. I’m praying the 23rd is Kabobi,” Kainerugaba wrote late Monday on X, using a derogatory nickname for Wine and referring to his National Unity Platform party.

In a separate post, he gave Wine "48 hours to surrender” to police, threatening to treat him as an outlaw if he failed to do so.

He clarified that the ultimatum was entirely his personal action, stating, “I exonerate my great and venerable father from what I’m going to do to Kabobi (Bobi Wine).”

In yet another shocking tweet, the President's son expressed regret at the low number of people who had been murdered by the police during the voting process.

He wrote: "Personally, I'm embarrassed by our record. 22 killed in one week is too low. I promise to do better."

Bobi Wine quickly fired back, saying the security forces had targeted his home in Magere in an operation meant to harm him.

“You ordered the raid on my house to harm me,” he wrote, describing how he narrowly avoided capture. He also criticised the authorities for what he called “atrocities against Ugandans” and insisted he would reappear on his own terms.

"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,” he added.

The opposition leader detailed the operation, describing a night-time military and police raid that included power cuts, interference with CCTV cameras, and helicopters hovering above his residence.

“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.

Wine's wife remains under apparent house arrest, while his own whereabouts remain unknown after he said he narrowly escaped a military raid on Saturday.

In a televised message aired on Monday night on NTV Uganda, Wine accused the police of vandalising his home and said that leaving the premises had allowed him "to speak to the world,” although he did not disclose his location.

Kainerugaba, known for his incendiary late-night posts, escalated his rhetoric further by calling himself "a prophet of Almighty God” and hurling dehumanising insults at Wine.

"I told you all that Mzee would win by the biggest percentage since 1996, and it happened. Now I tell you that NUP will be removed and extinguished from our land like a bad dream!" he tweeted. 

The army chief has a history of provocative online statements and last year openly threatened to behead the opposition leader.

The renewed threats followed an unusually quiet period from Kainerugaba during the campaign, but he returned to social media soon after his father’s victory, posting frequently and aggressively.

Meanwhile, the crackdown on the opposition has widened. At least 118 members of the National Unity Platform were charged in Kampala courts on Monday with offences including unlawful assembly, conspiracy and possession of election materials, according to court records and party officials.

NUP secretary-general David Rubongoya denied accusations that the party’s supporters were involved in violence, saying many of those arrested were accredited polling agents.

"They even had letters confirming that they were polling agents of NUP. They were targeted and arrested violently,” he told local broadcaster NTV Uganda.

Scattered protests broke out in parts of the capital on Saturday after election officials announced Museveni’s victory, but police swiftly dispersed crowds using teargas and detentions.

Ahead of the vote, the United Nations Human Rights Office accused Uganda’s military and police of using live ammunition against peaceful rallies, carrying out arbitrary arrests and abducting opposition supporters.

Museveni, in power since 1986, is Africa’s third-longest-serving head of state.

His latest victory means he could rule Uganda for nearly half a century by the time his new term ends in 2031.

Wine and his party have rejected the election results, alleging ballot stuffing, intimidation, enforced disappearances of polling agents and widespread repression.