Timothy Kalyegira, a renowned social and political critic, replied to a post on X yesterday by saying he was “hiding in the basement.”
Why? Hours earlier, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), had written that he was ready to pay Shs 10 million to anybody who could deliver Kalyegira to him.
Kalyegira has written several scathing posts about Gen Muhoozi’s conduct, which have not gone down well with the First Son therefore there is no love lost between the two.
Yet a critical examination of Muhoozi’s X activity over the past three years reveals that he has frequently crossed lines that many consider inappropriate for a serving military officer.
In 2022, he sparked a diplomatic row by claiming that the UPDF could capture Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, in two weeks, prompting an apology from President Museveni to Kenya.
That same year, he voiced support for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine and for Tigrayan forces in Ethiopia’s civil war, positions that contradicted Uganda’s official non-aligned stance and drew international criticism.
More recently, Muhoozi’s posts have targeted Ugandan opposition figures with alarming intensity. In January 2025, he threatened to “behead” National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, calling him a “rebel leader” and “lumpen.”
Although he later described the threat as a joke, Kyagulanyi said such remarks could not be taken lightly, given Muhoozi’s position as CDF.
In another inflammatory post in February 2025, Muhoozi labeled opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye a “traitor” and suggested he would leave prison “in his coffin after we hang him or shoot him.” This drew widespread condemnation for undermining democratic principles.
Perhaps the most shocking incident came in May 2025, when Muhoozi claimed to be holding Eddie Mutwe, Kaygulanyi’s bodyguard, “in my basement,” posting a photo of the shirtless detainee and threatening to castrate him. Mutwe was later produced in court in Masaka.
Muhoozi’s posts, often delivered in rapid succession, cover a dizzying array of topics, from domestic politics to international relations, and are marked by a brash, confrontational tone.
For instance, in a single day in January 2025, Muhoozi called MPs “clowns” and “fools,” threatened to arrest them, and reiterated execution threats against Besigye and Bobi Wine, leaving observers struggling to keep up.
Mainstream media steps back
Initially, the mainstream media organisations like The EastAfrican, Daily Monitor, The Observer, and other outlets eagerly covered Muhoozi’s posts, recognizing their potential to influence public discourse and strain diplomatic relations.
The Daily Monitor, for example described his 2022 tweets as a “spectacle” that dominated Uganda’s news cycle, in its end of year news review.
Yet over the past year, coverage of Muhoozi’s X posts in the mainstream media has faded. Instead, the posts have become fodder for peripheral online news portals angling for views and likes.
So why has the mainstream media increasingly ignored covering Gen Muhoozi’s controversial posts? Several factors could explain this shift. Here are some.
First, the sheer volume and unpredictability of Muhoozi’s posts have overwhelmed newsrooms. Editors and journalists often find themselves unable to process the rapid-fire nature of his statements, which can number dozens in a matter of hours and cover unrelated issues.
This frenetic pace makes it challenging to discern which posts warrant serious coverage and which are mere provocations. His posts leave heads spinning, as they often lack coherence or a clear policy angle.
Second, the government’s consistent dismissal of Muhoozi’s statements as “casual” and not reflective of official policy has dulled their newsworthiness. Godfrey Kabbyanga, the minister of state for Information, and other officials have repeatedly urged the public not to take the general’s remarks seriously, framing them as personal outbursts rather than state positions. Ofwono Opondo, the former executive director of the Uganda Media Centre, once described Muhoozi’s posts as “locker-room banter,” further undermining their credibility.
Third, Muhoozi’s pattern of deactivating and reactivating his X account—most notably in January 2025, when he quit, citing a focus on military duties, only to return a week later—has led to skepticism about his intentions.
Serious journalists view these moves as attention-seeking tactics.
Finally, the media’s focus has shifted to more pressing issues, such as Uganda’s upcoming 2026 elections and economic challenges. Muhoozi’s posts, while provocative, are increasingly seen as distractions from these larger narratives.
Yet whether you like them or find them offensive, Muhoozi’s X posts have undeniably shaped Uganda’s political landscape, fueling debates about his ambitions to succeed his father and his disregard for military protocol.
No doubt his posts remain a lightning rod for controversy at least on various social media platforms.
In the mainstream media, the posts have been shown a cotempt card.
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