MY RIGHT TO CRUSH THEM! Muhoozi Reveals Opposition Politicians He Wants to Follow Besigye and Lukwago in Prison

KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s military chief, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on Thursday openly declared that he has the authority to arrest opposition politicians and vowed to continue “crushing” them, in a series of social media posts that underscored his increasingly prominent role in the country’s political discourse.

The Chief of Defence Forces made the remarks while sharing what appeared to be an artificial intelligence-generated image depicting veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and Erias Lukwago, the President of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), dressed in yellow prison uniforms.

The image carried a brief caption:

“They are finally together.”

The post came against the backdrop of ongoing legal troubles facing several opposition figures and amid growing tensions between the government and its critics.

Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, has spent more than two decades challenging President Yoweri Museveni’s government and remains one of the most recognizable opposition figures in Uganda. Lukwago, a former Lord Mayor of Kampala and now President of the People’s Front for Freedom, has emerged as one of the leading voices within Uganda’s opposition.

Minutes later, Muhoozi followed the image with an even more striking declaration.

“Those who ask me how I can arrest Lukwago and keep him in my basement? I answer that as CDF I have every right to arrest anyone especially members of the opposition. I am going to continue to crush them until no one will remember who they were.”

The statement amounted to a public assertion of power from the country’s top military officer, who in recent years has increasingly used social media to comment on political developments, opposition leaders and national affairs.

Less than half an hour later, Muhoozi appeared to identify two more opposition figures he believes could join those already facing detention or prosecution.

“Semujju and Joel will follow very soon.”

The reference was widely understood to mean Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, Secretary General of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), and Joel Ssenyonyi, the Nakawa West Member of Parliament, Leader of Opposition in Parliament and spokesperson of the National Unity Platform (NUP).

Both men occupy senior positions within Uganda’s opposition politics and have frequently criticized the government on issues ranging from governance and accountability to human rights and electoral reforms.

Muhoozi offered no further explanation for the statement.

Earlier in the day, he also addressed questions about his accountability and position within Uganda’s power structure.

“The only power in Uganda that has the power to summon me, is Mzee Museveni.”

The remark highlighted the close relationship between the military commander and President Museveni, who serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and has ruled Uganda since 1986.

In another exchange, Muhoozi responded to questions concerning an individual identified as “Tabz,” saying Uganda’s intelligence services would look into the matter.

Over the years, Muhoozi’s social media presence has evolved from occasional commentary into a platform through which he frequently makes declarations on security, governance and political affairs. His posts often blur the distinction between military communication and political messaging, particularly as his influence within Uganda’s political establishment continues to grow.

Thursday’s remarks were among his most direct yet, not only because they referenced specific opposition leaders, but because they framed the arrest and detention of opposition figures as a legitimate exercise of military authority.

The comments came at a time when relations between the state and opposition movements remain deeply strained. Several opposition leaders and activists have in recent years accused security agencies of harassment, arbitrary arrests and politically motivated prosecutions, allegations government officials have consistently denied.

At the center of Thursday’s controversy was Muhoozi’s most emphatic statement of the day:

“I am going to continue to crush them until no one will remember who they were.”

For critics of the government, the remark is likely to reinforce concerns about the shrinking space for dissent in Uganda. For supporters of the ruling establishment, it reflects Muhoozi’s unapologetic approach to confronting those he considers opponents of the state.

Either way, the country’s most powerful military officer once again placed himself at the center of Uganda’s political conversation.

It should be remembered that Ssemujju has made it clear he is not afraid of Muhoozi and that he does not fear being killed by Museveni’s son, as reported Here.

Meanwhile, Mugisha Muntu has sent a clear warning to Museveni regarding Muhoozi’s actions. (See Details Here).