The head of Uganda’s military said he wants to decapitate the opposition leader

The son of longtime President Yoweri Museveni, the head of Uganda’s military, declared his desire to decapitate the nation’s most well-known opposition figure.

Most people agree that Muhoozi Kainerugaba is his father’s heir apparent. His father has been in charge of Uganda since 1986. Kainerugaba frequently publishes contentious things on social media, such as threatening to attack neighboring Kenya in 2022.

Later, Kainerugaba expressed regret for the threat, and he occasionally claims that some posts are sarcastic.

In a Sunday night post on X, Kainerugaba claimed that the only person shielding opposition leader Bobi Wine from him was his father, whom he addressed with the honorific Mzee.

Kainerugaba wrote, “I would cut off Mzee’s head today if he wasn’t there.”

In his response on X, Bobi Wine—real name Robert Kyagulanyi—who came in second to Museveni in the 2021 presidential race, stated that he did not take the threat lightly and that there had been other attempts on his life in the past.

In response, Kainerugaba said: “At last! I roused you. “Repay us the money we loaned you before I behead you,” implying that the government had earlier bought off Wine to weaken the opposition.

Government and Kainerugaba spokespeople were not immediately available for comment. An official from the military declined to comment.

Kainerugaba’s social media statements should be interpreted as “casual” remarks and should not be interpreted as representing government policy, according to the government spokesperson.

Wine, a well-known musician who became a politician, has used his celebrity to become Museveni’s most formidable opponent. He disputed the 2021 election results, claiming intimidation and ballot stuffing.

Human rights advocates have also charged Museveni’s administration with extensive violations of human rights, such as arbitrary detention and torture.

The government of Uganda has consistently refuted claims of human rights violations and electoral fraud.