Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has said opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye will be handled by Gen Caleb Akandwanaho, commonly known as Salim Saleh, claiming that President Yoweri Museveni has given his younger brother the authority to deal with the matter.
Muhoozi made the remarks while discussing Besigye’s situation, placing Saleh at the centre of any possible discussions concerning the opposition veteran’s future and the possibility of forgiveness.
“Dr. KB will be handled by Afande Saleh,” Muhoozi reportedly said, using the initials commonly associated with Besigye.
The Chief of Defence Forces further indicated that if Besigye wanted forgiveness, he would have to approach Saleh directly. “If he wants forgiveness he should talk to Afande Saleh,” Muhoozi reportedly stated.
Muhoozi then appeared to clarify the source of Saleh’s authority, saying that President Museveni had given him the powers to handle the matter involving Besigye.
“Mzee has given Afande SS those powers,” Muhoozi reportedly said, referring to Museveni as Mzee and Saleh as Afande SS.
The remarks have immediately placed Gen Salim Saleh at the centre of renewed discussions surrounding Besigye, one of Uganda’s longest-serving opposition figures and a politician who has had a highly contentious relationship with the government.
Besigye has challenged Museveni politically for many years and has stood against him in several presidential elections. Their political rivalry has remained one of the defining features of Uganda’s modern opposition politics.
Over the years, Besigye has faced numerous arrests, court proceedings and other confrontations with security agencies. His continued opposition to Museveni’s government has made him one of the most recognisable figures in Uganda’s political landscape.
The latest comments from Muhoozi introduce a different dimension to the situation by suggesting that Saleh could play a central role in determining whether Besigye can receive forgiveness.
Saleh, Museveni’s younger brother, is a senior military figure who has held influential positions within Uganda’s security establishment. His name has frequently featured in discussions about major political and security matters.
Muhoozi’s reference to powers being granted by Museveni is therefore likely to attract considerable attention, particularly because the statement concerns Besigye, whose political battles with the government have continued for decades.
The comments also raise questions about what Muhoozi meant by “handling” Besigye and what specific authority Saleh has been given in relation to the opposition politician.
It remains unclear whether the reported authority relates to political negotiations, possible forgiveness, security matters or another arrangement concerning Besigye’s ongoing situation.
For Besigye, the statement could provide a possible indication of where discussions about his future may take place if an agreement or reconciliation is being considered.
Muhoozi’s comments suggest that Besigye would have to initiate contact with Saleh if he wanted forgiveness. This places the former presidential candidate in a position where any possible political settlement could involve direct engagement with the senior military figure.
The development comes at a sensitive time for Besigye, whose legal and political circumstances have continued to attract national attention. His supporters have repeatedly raised concerns about his treatment and called for his freedom.
Besigye has remained an influential opposition voice even after years of political confrontation with the government. His political journey has included presidential campaigns, arrests, court battles and periods of detention.
The mention of forgiveness is particularly significant because it could point toward a political rather than purely legal dimension to the current situation. However, Muhoozi’s remarks alone do not establish what formal steps, if any, will follow.
The statement has also generated fresh questions about the relationship between Uganda’s political leadership and the security establishment, especially when dealing with cases involving senior opposition politicians.
Whether Besigye will actually engage Saleh, and what could emerge from such an engagement, remains uncertain. No detailed public explanation has yet been provided regarding the exact nature of the authority Muhoozi says Museveni granted to Saleh.
For now, Gen Muhoozi’s remarks have shifted attention toward Salim Saleh, portraying him as the person who could become central to any discussions concerning forgiveness for Besigye.
The development is likely to fuel further debate among political observers and Besigye’s supporters, particularly because his confrontation with the Museveni government has lasted for several decades.
As the situation develops, attention will remain focused on whether Besigye responds to Muhoozi’s statement, whether Saleh makes any public comments and whether the reported presidential directive leads to any concrete change in Besigye’s circumstances.
