By Andrew Kariuki
Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, said on Friday that security forces have detained about 2,000 opposition supporters, killed at least 30 people and are continuing to pursue others following the country’s disputed presidential election earlier this month.
The election, held on January 15, saw President Yoweri Museveni, 81, declared the winner of a seventh term in office after nearly four decades in power.
The vote took place amid a nationwide internet shutdown and was followed by heightened security operations across the country.
Opposition leader Bobi Wine, whose legal name is Robert Kyagulanyi, rejected the outcome, alleging widespread electoral irregularities including ballot manipulation and intimidation.
Wine, a former musician and leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), later went into hiding after reporting raids by security forces at his residence.
In a series of social media posts overnight, Muhoonzi, who is also President Museveni’s son, described detained NUP supporters as “terrorists” and “hooligans,” claiming that at least 30 had been killed.
He did not provide details on how or where the deaths occurred.
“So far we have killed 30 NUP terrorists,” Kainerugaba wrote on X, adding in another post that many opposition leaders were in hiding and would be tracked down.
The government has accused opposition supporters of instigating violence during the election period, while opposition figures and human rights groups say security forces have carried out arrests, assaults and enforced disappearances targeting NUP members.
Reuters said it was unable to independently verify the competing claims.
Police declined to comment further on the allegations, while military spokesperson Chris Magezi could not be reached.
The United Nations has expressed concern over the reports.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged restraint and called on all parties to respect the rule of law and Uganda’s international human rights obligations, according to his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.
Wine has previously accused authorities of illegally detaining hundreds of his supporters due to their political affiliation, alleging intimidation and abuse.
Opposition parties and rights groups say some detainees are being held in unofficial facilities where torture has been reported.
The crackdown intensified this week with the arrest of Muwanga Kivumbi, a Member of Parliament and deputy leader of the NUP.
According to rights group Agora Discourse, Kivumbi appeared in court in Butambala on Friday, where he was charged with terrorism and remanded in custody until February 3.
Details of his plea and legal representation were not immediately available.
Two other senior NUP figures have reportedly been missing for several days.
Wine, 43, has said he fled his home after security forces raided it shortly after the election.
Analysts note that Kainerugaba, who has openly expressed political ambitions, is widely viewed as a potential successor to his father, President Museveni.
