The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has accused Western media organisations of pursuing an “imperialistic” campaign against Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, arguing that foreign journalists would prefer opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, to succeed President Yoweri Museveni.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Kampala on Saturday, October 10, 2026, acting defence and UPDF spokesperson Col Chris Magezi said Uganda’s next president would be determined by Ugandans rather than foreign media organisations or their preferred political candidates.
“However, the future of Uganda is a choice that will be firmly determined by Ugandans when the time comes,” Magezi said.
The statement followed the publication of an article by American newspaper The New York Times, written by Megan K. Stack and titled The Authoritarian Future Is Already Here, on October 8, 2026.
Magezi accused the journalist of recycling what he described as long-standing opposition narratives against the government in Kampala while making “disparaging, unfounded, and utterly scandalous allegations” against Muhoozi, who is also Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations.
“The author of the article regurgitates long held, twisted opposition and activist narratives against the government in Kampala,” Magezi said.
He described the publication as a continuation of what he called a “vile campaign in recent years by western media conglomerates against General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for quite obviously imperialistic reasons.”
‘They would rather have the lackey Robert Kyagulanyi’
Magezi cited previous publications by Western media outlets as evidence of what he considers a sustained effort to portray Muhoozi negatively and influence perceptions about Uganda’s political future.
He referred to a September 2024 article in British newspaper The Telegraph titled Hardman who may be Uganda’s next president is Putin fan and asked Meloni to marry him.
He also cited a September 2025 report by The Wall Street Journal titled He Jokes About Trump and Invading Kenya — and May Be Uganda’s Next President.
Magezi further pointed to a September 2026 publication by British magazine The Economist titled From Autocracy to Despotism.
“In all cases, the articles and ‘expert analysis’ are trivial, sensational, and low on substance,” he said.
The spokesperson argued that the publications reflected a preference among Western media organisations for a different successor to Museveni.
“What is clear though is that General Muhoozi Kainerugaba is not their (western media) preferred successor of choice to a post-Museveni Uganda,” Magezi said.
“They would rather have the lackey Robert Kyagulanyi in-charge, or others of similar kin.”
He did not provide evidence that the cited publications were coordinated or that their authors were acting on behalf of a common political interest.
Nevertheless, Magezi insisted that Uganda’s succession question belonged to Ugandans.
“However, the future of Uganda is a choice that will be firmly determined by Ugandans when the time comes,” he reiterated.
UPDF rejects New York Times account of Kakwenza’s alleged abuse
The most serious dispute in the latest publication concerns allegations attributed to exiled Ugandan writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, who has previously accused Ugandan security personnel of torturing him during detention.
In the passage cited by Magezi, The New York Times recounts Kakwenza’s allegation that Muhoozi visited him in detention and subjected him to degrading treatment.
According to the account quoted in the article, Kakwenza alleged that, during the first visit, Muhoozi ordered him to bend over to make himself shorter before removing his trousers to expose his penis.
The article also recounts Kakwenza’s claim that, during a second visit, Muhoozi offered him a bribe to remain silent about the alleged abuse.
Kakwenza has further alleged that he was viciously flogged and beaten while in detention, leaving him with fractured ankle bones, kidney damage and scars across his back.
Magezi dismissed the account, arguing that it contained contradictions that undermined its credibility.
“The inconsistencies in the story are quite laughable,” he said.
“In one instance, Kakwenza, allegedly the taller of the two men, is ordered to ‘bend over to make himself shorter’, and in the next, his ankles are shattered and ‘he could not even stand’.”
“Quite remarkable,” Magezi added.
He described the allegations as “outlandish, cheap, and miserable”, insisting that the claims against the general were fabricated.
“The lies are clear to see, outlandish, cheap, and miserable,” he said.
Magezi also urged the public to reject what he characterised as politically motivated attacks against African leaders.
“What is more, baseless and unfounded character assassination of African leaders should be dismissed out of hand by rational thinking members of society with the contempt deserved,” he said.
The spokesperson then issued an unequivocal denial of the alleged encounters between Muhoozi and Kakwenza.
“To put it clear, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has never met Kakwenza Rukirabashaija in his life,” Magezi declared.
He went on to attack Kakwenza’s credibility, saying: “Kakwenza is a known fiction teller, and the latest episode in the previously respectable New York Times is a fine figment of his imagination.”
The statement did not provide independent evidence for Magezi’s assertion that Muhoozi and Kakwenza had never met. The competing accounts of the alleged encounters remain disputed in the material cited in the statement.
‘Serious accusations require serious evidence’
Magezi used the controversy to defend Muhoozi’s military record, arguing that the general’s achievements should not be judged through media reports, online remarks or controversial public statements.
“General Muhoozi Kainerugaba is a decorated military officer with decades of dedicated service and outstanding achievements in his field,” he said.
“To reduce him and his substantial achievements based on social media banter, misguided, and false media reports is absurd and a desperate attempt to satisfy prejudiced western audiences about the supposed failings of Africa.”
The spokesperson also defended Uganda’s constitutional and legal framework, accusing Muhoozi’s critics of selectively focusing on online remarks while overlooking the country’s institutions.
“Uganda is a constitutional and democratic polity,” he said.
“Cherry-picking online remarks or jokes while disregarding the broader institutional and constitutional frameworks, including the laws of Uganda within which the country operates is the height of hypocrisy.”
On allegations of human rights violations attributed to Muhoozi, Magezi argued that the claims had not met the evidentiary standards he considered necessary for serious accusations.
“The allegations of human rights abuses attributed to Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba are presented without proper verification and rigorous scrutiny. It is hearsay,” he said.
“Serious accusations require serious evidence, not reliance on anecdotal, or politically motivated sources.”
UPDF promises discipline and accountability
Magezi also defended the conduct of the military institution commanded by Muhoozi, insisting that the army operates within Uganda’s laws and constitutional framework.
“Thirdly, the UPDF, which General Muhoozi Kainerugaba commands, operates within the confines of the law,” he said.
He maintained that the military would continue to assist civilian authorities whenever requested or required, including in maintaining law and order.
“The UPDF will continue its constitutional obligation to extend support to the civil authorities when requested or required, for instance, to support the maintenance of law and order, among others,” Magezi said.
He added that military personnel who violate the law would remain subject to disciplinary and accountability measures.
“It will also continue to hold service members who break the law to the highest standards of discipline and accountability,” he said.
Magezi argued that Ugandans were familiar with the country’s institutions and that the courts remained available to adjudicate disputes where evidence was presented.
“Ugandans know this,” he said.
“The Ugandan courts are robust and functional whenever evidence is presented, and the political opposition has utilized the courts of law to great effect.”
‘What will not be tolerated is external interference’
The UPDF spokesperson concluded by warning against what he described as foreign interference in Uganda’s domestic affairs.
“Lastly, what will not be tolerated is external interference in the affairs of Uganda,” Magezi said.
His statement places the dispute over the New York Times article within the wider debate over Uganda’s political future after Museveni, who has governed the country since 1986, and the public role of his son, Muhoozi.
While Magezi accused Western media organisations of promoting an anti-Muhoozi, pro-Bobi Wine agenda, his statement did not identify evidence establishing that the cited publications were part of a coordinated effort to influence Uganda’s succession.
Instead, he maintained that the decision over who leads the country after Museveni rests with Ugandans.
“The future of Uganda is a choice that will be firmly determined by Ugandans when the time comes,” he said.
It should be remembered that even Muhoozi himself has previously hinted on another member of the first family succeeding Museveni, as detailed Here and There.
