MADOWO AND MUHOONZI ONLINE BATTLE

Days after President Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner of Uganda’s contentious presidential election, CNN journalist Larry Madowo found himself at the centre of a heated online confrontation with Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, reigniting regional debate over power, free speech, and the suppression of dissent.

The public spat played out on X after Madowo resurfaced screenshots of Muhoozi’s past controversial remarks, some of which appeared to reference killings allegedly linked to opposition politics. The statements touched on the National Unity Platform (NUP), the opposition party led by Bobi Wine, which has emerged as the strongest political challenge to Museveni’s nearly four-decade rule.

Madowo openly questioned Muhoozi’s tone and language, suggesting that his confidence stemmed from his proximity to power as the president’s son.

“Muhoozi, why are you bragging about killing Ugandans who support the opposition? Is it because you’re protected by your father, President Museveni?”

Muhoozi’s response did not engage with the substance of the accusation. Instead, he launched a personal attack on the journalist, accusing Madowo of seeking validation from Western audiences and betraying African interests.

“Why don’t you call me by my name, Larry? How long will you kiss the Muzungu’s ASS in the USA pretending to represent us?”

In a series of posts on his official X account — later deleted but preserved through screenshots shared by Madowo — Muhoozi celebrated his father’s election victory in religious and militaristic language. He described the win as divinely ordained and went further to threaten the opposition.

“I, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, am a prophet of Almighty God. I told you all that Mzee would win by the biggest percentage since 1996, and it happened. Now I tell you that NUP will be removed and extinguished from our land like a bad dream!”

In what drew the strongest backlash, Muhoozi went on to claim the killing of opposition supporters, whom he labelled “terrorists,” and issued a direct threat referencing Bobi Wine.

“We have killed 22 NUP terrorists since last week. I’m praying the 23rd is Kabobi.”

The remarks triggered widespread condemnation from journalists, rights activists, and opposition figures across the region. Under mounting pressure, Muhoozi deleted several of the posts. Madowo said he had archived the tweets, warning that attempts to erase them were futile.

“Muhoozi deleted the tweets threatening to kill Bobi Wine but I kept them. You cannot erase something from the internet.”

Speculation briefly emerged that Muhoozi’s X account had been suspended after it temporarily disappeared. Uganda’s military later stated that the general had personally deleted the posts.

The general’s rhetoric appeared to mirror President Museveni’s own victory speech delivered on Sunday, in which the president adopted a confrontational tone, branding some opposition members “terrorists” and accusing them of working with foreign actors and “homosexual groups.”

“All the traitors… stop everything, because we know what you are doing,” Museveni warned.

The online confrontation has since sparked broader conversations about press freedom, civil liberties, and the shrinking democratic space in Uganda. Many social media users praised Madowo for what they described as assertive watchdog journalism, while others argued the exchange underscored the risks journalists face when challenging entrenched power structures in the country.