“We have killed 30,” says Uganda Army Chief in post-election threats

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has continued issuing threats against opposition figures in the aftermath of the country’s disputed January elections.

In a series of posts on his official X account, Kainerugaba referred to opposition members as “terrorists,” admitted to the killing of dozens of people, and acknowledged the arrest of hundreds more. In one post, he wrote: “So far we have killed 30 NUP terrorists,” referring to supporters of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP). In another, he said: “We have arrested over 2,000 hooligans that Kabobi thought he would use,” using a derogatory nickname for opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.

These statements follow earlier posts in which Kainerugaba claimed responsibility for the killing of “22 terrorists” and vowed that more would be killed.

Bobi Wine, Museveni’s main challenger in the election, has gone into hiding, citing repeated raids on his home and threats to his family. In recent social media posts, Wine said armed and masked soldiers had stormed his residence and assaulted his relatives.

“A group of masked, armed soldiers has just broken into our house and beat up my family members,” Wine wrote. “They have currently isolated my wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi, alone. Their intentions are unclear.”

Despite the post-election tensions, congratulatory messages have continued to pour in for President Museveni from regional and international leaders, including the president of Russia and officials from the European Union.

In a statement released on friday, the European Union expressed concern over the situation, saying: “We regret pre- and post-electoral violence and threats, particularly against opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), and call on all parties to exercise restraint and on the authorities to ensure the safety of all political actors.”

The EU added that it “values its long-standing partnership with Uganda and looks forward to continuing to engage with the Ugandan Government, civil society and the private sector.”

Museveni recently secured his seventh term as president in the January 2026 elections, extending his rule beyond four decades. Official results credited him with more than 70 percent of the vote, while Bobi Wine received just under 25 percent. The election was conducted under an internet blackout and amid widespread reports of intimidation, arrests, and abductions. Opposition groups criticized the process as neither free nor fair, citing the heavy involvement of security forces.

Museveni has ruled Uganda since 1986, when he seized power after a guerrilla war. Over the years, he has amended the constitution to remove both term and age limits that would have prevented him from running again. While his leadership has brought relative stability compared to Uganda’s turbulent past, it has also been marked by accusations of authoritarianism, corruption, and repression of political dissent.

Speculation over succession has intensified in recent years, particularly around Kainerugaba, who has hinted at presidential ambitions and cultivated a strong social media presence. Critics argue that his growing influence signals a move toward dynastic rule, deepening concerns about democratic decline in Uganda.

The post-election period has been marred by violence and fear, with reports of deaths, abductions, and intimidation of opposition supporters. Museveni’s continued grip on power places him among the world’s longest-serving leaders, alongside figures such as Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea and Paul Biya of Cameroon.