General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces of Uganda and son of President Yoweri Museveni, reportedly made a controversial statement asserting that policemen who do not physically confront members of the National Unity Platform (NUP) will be dismissed from their positions.
The context of this statement appears tied to ongoing tensions between Uganda’s ruling government and the NUP, a prominent opposition party led by Robert Kyagulanyi.
Recent months have seen escalating friction, with reports of security forces raiding NUP offices, arresting party members, and cracking down on their activities.
The First Son urged the security forces to double up the batons and whips on Mr Kyagulanyi and his supporters going forward and threatened to sack officers who do not beat NUP enough.
"Police men who do not beat up NUP will be sent home," Muhoozi posted on X.
This statement raises serious questions about the politicization of Uganda’s security forces and the state of democratic freedoms in the country.
The NUP has been a vocal critic of the Museveni administration, and such a directive could be interpreted as an attempt to intimidate opposition supporters.
The notion that police would be penalized for not engaging in violence against a specific political group suggests a shift from maintaining public order to enforcing partisan loyalty, a move that critics might argue undermines the rule of law.
''JAT is doing a great job, But they are not beating criminals enough. Anyone found in a red uniform should learn to fear JAT''. He added
Muhoozi’s outspokenness has stirred controversy, often prompting the government to distance itself from his remarks, labeling them as personal opinions rather than policy.
Whether this alleged directive will translate into action or remain rhetorical posturing is unclear, but it undeniably adds fuel to the already volatile political climate.