General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the controversial son and presumed successor of Uganda’s long-serving President Yoweri Museveni, has sparked national outrage with twin declarations threatening to deport opposition voters and banning female soldiers from wearing trousers.
The incendiary statements came amid escalating pre-election tensions in the East African nation, which heads to the polls in January.
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) that blurred the lines between official military communication and political intimidation, Kainerugaba warned Ugandans against voting against his 78-year-old father, who has ruled since 1986.
“Those who do not support Mzee wholeheartedly better be very careful!” he wrote, using the Swahili honorific for elders. “We will deport all the traitors in public view!!”
The threat follows Kainerugaba’s recent boast about the capture and torture of Eddie Mutwe, bodyguard to opposition leader Bobi Wine. Justice Minister Norbert Mao confirmed Mutwe showed visible torture marks during a court appearance this month.
Kainerugaba chillingly referred to the incident as “an appetizer,” adding he took “FULL responsibility” for his soldiers’ actions.
In a separate post that drew swift condemnation from gender rights groups, the army commander decreed that female soldiers must now wear skirts during parades. “Trousers are for men not for women,” he declared, threatening severe consequences for anyone forcing women into pants.
The order reverses current UPDF policy where women wear the same combat uniforms as men daily, with skirts optional for formal events.
The remarks underscore the increasingly authoritarian climate ahead of Uganda’s January vote. Museveni’s government has recently arrested numerous opposition figures and restricted political gatherings. Analysts view Kainerugaba’s inflammatory rhetoric as testing his populist appeal while reinforcing the ruling party’s iron grip.
“This isn’t just about skirts or tweets, it’s about systematically dismantling democratic norms,” said Kampala-based political analyst Rosebell Kagumire. “When an army general threatens voters and brags about torture, it reveals the true nature of Uganda’s so-called democracy.”
The UPDF has not commented on whether Kainerugaba’s clothing mandate will be enforced. Meanwhile, opposition coalitions are demanding international observers for the upcoming elections, which many fear could become Uganda’s most violent polls in decades.
