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The son of Uganda’s long-serving president, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, ignited a firestorm on Sunday, January 5, 2025, after publicly threatening to decapitate opposition leader Bobi Wine. The shocking remarks, delivered via a post on X (formerly Twitter), have drawn widespread condemnation and reignited concerns over political repression in Uganda.
Kainerugaba, widely regarded as President Yoweri Museveni’s successor, is no stranger to controversy. The outspoken general frequently uses social media to make inflammatory and provocative statements, including a 2022 threat to invade neighboring Kenya—a claim he later apologized for and dismissed as a joke. This latest remark, however, has escalated tensions in Uganda’s political landscape.
In his post, Kainerugaba referred to his father, Museveni, with the Swahili honorific “Mzee,” stating, “If Mzee was not there, I would cut off [Bobi Wine’s] head today.” The general’s words appear to reflect ongoing hostility between Museveni’s administration and Wine, whose legal name is Robert Kyagulanyi. The opposition leader rose to prominence as a musician before transitioning into politics, where he has become Museveni’s most formidable challenger.
Wine, who finished second in Uganda’s 2021 presidential election, responded on X, asserting that he did not take the threat lightly. He reminded his followers of previous attempts on his life, suggesting that Kainerugaba’s comment could be part of a broader campaign to intimidate him and his supporters.
“Finally! I woke you up?” Kainerugaba replied in a follow-up post. “Before I behead you, repay us the money we loaned you,” he added, implying that the government had once bribed Wine to undermine the opposition.
The government of Uganda has not commented on the matter.
Human rights organizations have long accused Museveni’s administration of suppressing dissent through arbitrary arrests, torture, and media crackdowns.
Wine, who has used his celebrity status to galvanize a youthful and disenfranchised electorate, rejected the 2021 election results, alleging widespread voter fraud, ballot-stuffing, and voter intimidation.
Museveni, who has held power since 1986, has been criticized for entrenching his rule and enabling his family’s dominance in Ugandan politics. Kainerugaba’s growing influence—coupled with his brash social media presence—has fueled speculation that he is being groomed to take over the presidency.
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