Uganda Army Chief Apologizes to US After Accusing Embassy of Aiding Bobi Wine

Uganda’s army chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, apologized to the US after falsely accusing its embassy of helping opposition leader Bobi Wine evade authorities. Wine, who has been in hiding since losing the presidential election to President Museveni, remains defiant despite threats and raids by the military. The manhunt and hostile exchanges between Wine and Kainerugaba have heightened post-election tensions, raising fears of unrest.

Uganda’s army chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has formally apologised to the United States after making allegations that the US embassy in Kampala was assisting opposition leader Bobi Wine in evading authorities. On Friday, Kainerugaba posted on social media that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) would suspend all cooperation with the US embassy in Kampala, a move that caused immediate concern among international observers. However, less than an hour later, he deleted the post, explaining that he had been “fed with wrong information” and acknowledging that the accusations against the US diplomatic mission were unfounded.
Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has been in hiding since losing the presidential election earlier this month to Uganda’s long-serving president, Yoweri Museveni, who secured a seventh term in office. Wine, a former pop star turned politician, has consistently denounced the election results as fraudulent, describing Museveni’s victory as “blatant theft” and alleging widespread manipulation of the voting process.
Tensions escalated last week when Kainerugaba publicly threatened to hunt down and kill Wine, claiming that his forces had already killed 30 of Wine’s supporters and arrested approximately 2,000 individuals in the aftermath of the election. During this period, Wine’s wife reported being assaulted by soldiers during a raid on their home. While Kainerugaba took responsibility for the raid, he denied that Wine himself had been physically harmed. Despite these threats and raids, Wine has maintained a defiant stance against the government and its security forces.
In a social media post on Monday, Wine directly addressed the military pursuit, stating, “The whole army is looking for one person but they have failed to find me. That means they’re not as strong as they tell you.” He urged his supporters to continue advocating for their cause within the bounds of the law, saying, “They call us outlaws, but we do not break the law.” This message has resonated with many Ugandans, reflecting a mix of defiance and strategic caution in the face of government intimidation.
The manhunt for Wine has been led personally by Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is widely considered the presumptive heir to his father, President Museveni. Kainerugaba has engaged in a series of increasingly hostile exchanges with Wine, calling him a coward, a “baboon,” and a “terrorist.” Kainerugaba has a documented history of posting provocative and offensive statements on social media, many of which he later deletes, further intensifying political tensions.
These public confrontations between Wine and Kainerugaba have amplified post-election instability in Uganda. Citizens and political analysts alike are expressing concern that any direct action against Wine could ignite widespread unrest, as the country remains deeply polarised following the contested election. The situation highlights not only the fragility of Uganda’s political environment but also the delicate balance the military and the government must maintain in dealing with both domestic dissent and international scrutiny, particularly from key allies such as the United States.
The apology to the US embassy underscores the sensitivity of international relations in this context, as accusations against foreign diplomats can have significant diplomatic repercussions. Observers note that the incident reflects broader challenges in Uganda’s governance, including issues of accountability, political freedom, and the role of the military in domestic politics, all of which continue to shape the post-election landscape.