Winnie Byanyima, the UNAIDS executive director and wife of veteran Ugandan opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, has told first son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to leave issues of her past relationship with Yoweri Museveni.
This as a fresh online storm erupted after Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the First Son and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), issued a controversial warning to women amid the ongoing heated race for Speaker of Parliament.
His remarks, which widely circulated on social media, have drawn sharp criticism—most notably from Winnie Byanyima – for reasons of her personal history with the Museveni family.
Muhoozi, who also serves as a presidential advisor on special operations and chairman of the Patriotic League of Uganda, cautioned women against engaging in what he described as “these issues” surrounding the Speaker contest.
His comments followed growing political tensions after the group’s withdrawal of support for Speaker Anita Among and her deputy Thomas Tayebwa over allegations linked to the so-called Rolls Royce controversy.
The remarks, albeit veiled, were partly directed at Masaka City Woman MP Justine Nameere, who had publicly criticized PLU Secretary General David Kabanda for communicating the decision to abandon support for the incumbents’ re-election bids.
Her comments appear to have triggered Muhoozi’s sharp response.
In a statement that quickly went viral, Muhoozi referenced historical ties involving his father, President Yoweri Museveni, and Winnie Byanyima’s past relationship with him.
“I advise some ladies to steer clear of some of these issues,” wrote Muhoozi.
“It doesn’t matter how many times Mzee calls you. That doesn’t make you amount to anything! I remember Winnie Karagwa being as excited as some of you in 1986.”
Byanyima responded firmly, accusing Muhoozi of being fixated on people’s pasts and calling for restraint in political discourse.
“You are strangely fixated on other people’s pasts. Some family histories are far less flattering when examined closely,” write Winnie Byanyima.
“President Yoweri Museveni, please rein in your son.”
The long-running public friction between Muhoozi and Byanyima is not new, but part of a broader pattern of recurring exchanges that have previously spilled into public view.
For example, Muhoozi made comments on regional conflicts, including Ethiopia, which Byanyima criticised as potentially harmful to Ugandans abroad and the country’s diplomatic image.
Muhoozi responded at the time in unusually direct terms, dismissing her concerns and engaging in a personal exchange that further deepened public attention on their rivalry.
Muhoozi previously revealed that his father Museveni used to beat Winnie Byanyima and that he had to throw her out of State House. (See Details Here and There).
Winnie Byanyima has previously spoken about her previous love relationship and told Muhoozi to go slow. (See Details Here and There).
You can read about how Besigye fell in love with Winnie Byanyima after treating her stomachache during bush war days HERE.
