Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has issued a controversial pronouncement barring opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, from participating in any future elections in the country, citing national security reasons.
Kainerugaba, the eldest son of President Yoweri Museveni, made the declaration in a public statement attributed to him, asserting his authority as head of the armed forces.
“Whether Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu is in the country or not I, as CDF, in the interests of national security and for the good of the commonwealth ban him from any further participation in the electoral exercises of Uganda,” he said on Thursday.
The army chief also warned that the directive would apply to those who openly align themselves with Bobi Wine politically.
“From now on ANYONE who declares Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine as his/her political leader must be annulled.”
Kainerugaba further insisted that the order was final and binding, invoking his interpretation of executive power.
“My orders stand with the force of the Commander-in-Chief of the State.”
The remarks have drawn sharp reactions from political analysts, civil society organisations, and opposition supporters, with many raising concerns about their implications for Uganda’s constitutional framework, democratic participation, and the separation between military authority and civilian governance.
Bobi Wine, a former presidential candidate and leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has been a long-time critic of President Museveni’s administration and has previously accused security agencies of harassment, arbitrary detention, and repression of opposition activities.
As of the time of filing this report, there had been no official response from Uganda’s Electoral Commission, the presidency, or Bobi Wine regarding the CDF’s declaration.
The latest statement comes amid heightened political tension ahead of future electoral activities, with critics questioning the legal foundation and constitutional limits of military involvement in electoral matters.
Kainerugaba currently serves as Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and remains a central figure in the country’s political and security discourse.
The controversy follows earlier remarks by Kainerugaba in which he stated that 22 members of the opposition National Unity Platform were killed during the conduct of the country’s general elections.
He further suggested that Bobi Wine was the intended next target, referring to him as the “twenty-third” person.
Muhoozi, who is also Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, made the remarks on social media.
“We have killed 22 NUP terrorists since last week. I’m praying the 23rd is Kabobi,” he wrote on his official X handle.
The comments amount to an open acknowledgement of the killing of opposition party members and come amid ongoing controversy surrounding the re-election of President Museveni, who secured a seventh term in office at the age of 81 following disputed polls.
On Tuesday, Bobi Wine alleged that more than 100 of his supporters had been killed in recent days amid escalating political violence, accusing President Museveni’s son and the military of carrying out deadly repression.
In a post on X on Monday, the NUP leader said the killings had intensified over the past week, contradicting official figures he said were being publicly cited.
“Last night as Museveni’s son was making these threats to kill me and gloating over killing 22 of our supporters (in reality, he has killed over 100 since last week), the military who are stationed inside our compound yet again banged my house doors as they sang profanities, ordering the occupants to come out of the house if they’re men,” he posted on Tuesday.
Bobi Wine described the allegation as one of his strongest to date, claiming a sharp rise in fatalities linked to security operations targeting opposition supporters. While he did not provide names or locations of those allegedly killed, he said the violence coincided with increased military activity around his residence.
He further alleged that soldiers stationed at his home engaged in intimidation and disorderly conduct.
“The people at my home say the criminals seemed to be drunk.”
According to Bobi Wine, the situation has left his family and associates trapped and vulnerable, with security operatives allegedly blocking access to food and taking control of his compound by replacing gate padlocks with chains.
“We demand that the military vacate our home immediately. My wife and people are not safe. They’re starving after these criminals blocked food from reaching them. They cut the padlocks of our gates and replaced them with chains. FREE UGANDA NOW.”
(SAHARA REPORTERS)
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