Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has stirred significant debate on X (formerly Twitter) following strongly worded statements directed at detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye, whose case is currently before the courts.
In messages shared on his verified X account, Gen. Muhoozi alleged that Dr. Besigye “wanted to kill Mzee,” a reference to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. He further wrote that “as far as we are concerned, UPDF, he is a dead man walking,” and added in a separate post that “the only person preventing us from executing Besigye is Mzee himself.”
Besigye wanted to kill Mzee, so as far as we are concerned, UPDF, he is a dead man walking.
— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) February 19, 2026
Dr. Besigye is currently being held at Luzira Prison on treason charges. Treason is among the gravest offences under Ugandan law and carries severe penalties upon conviction. The case remains ongoing, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The remarks quickly gained traction online, prompting mixed reactions across Uganda’s political spectrum. Supporters of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) contend that the statements reflect the seriousness of the allegations facing the veteran opposition figure. Critics, including opposition leaders and civil society actors, have raised concerns about the tone of the comments, particularly given the sensitivity of an active judicial process.
There has been no official statement from the Uganda People’s Defence Force clarifying whether the comments represent an institutional position or were made in a personal capacity.
The controversy has intensified online discussions about due process, political rhetoric, and the broader political climate, with the issue continuing to trend on X at the time of publication.
