Opposition group slams Museveni for defending son's 'brutality'

President Yoweri Museveni’s recent defense of his son, Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition People’s Front for Freedom (PFF). The PFF accuses the President of attempting to sanitize what they describe as “brutality” and “state-sponsored terror” carried out by security forces under his son’s command.

In a national address, President Museveni defended recent arrests of opposition figures and media closures, framing them as necessary measures against growing impunity. He suggested Ugandans should be thankful suspects are taken to court rather than being killed outright. However, human rights advocates and opposition leaders have voiced concerns, likening the tactics to those of past repressive regimes and highlighting allegations of enforced disappearances and prolonged incommunicado detentions.

The PFF specifically condemned Museveni’s remarks regarding the trial of veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, accusing the President of fabricating a narrative to justify what they call an “unlawful process.” The party stated that the alleged abduction and subsequent legal proceedings against Besigye demonstrate judicial manipulation and a deliberate attempt to secure a conviction rather than pursue justice.

The opposition group challenged the President to hold his son accountable, calling for Gen. Kainerugaba to face legal scrutiny for alleged lawless abductions and torture. The PFF insists that if the government possesses strong evidence, it should pursue a fair and open trial without resorting to alleged harassment of legal teams and suppression of due process.

“If you truly have the evidence you claim to possess: put the guns away, shut down the safehouses, step out of the basements, and let us tussle it out fairly in an open dock!” the PFF stated, underscoring their demand for transparency and adherence to the rule of law. The group maintained that any conviction manufactured through such means would underestimate the resilience of Dr. Besigye and his supporters.

Source: https://observer.ug/news/pff-to-museveni-stop-sanitising-your-sons-brutality