Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has vowed to have businessman Odrek Rwabwogo arrested, escalating an increasingly bitter public dispute between the two men.
Gen Muhoozi made the statement while commenting on the ongoing controversy surrounding Rwabwogo and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID).
In a post, Gen Muhoozi said he would act against Rwabwogo in his capacity as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
“As Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I will arrest the criminal Odrek soon and bring peace to our people,” Gen Muhoozi stated.
The remarks have attracted significant attention because Rwabwogo is married to Patience Museveni Rwabwogo, a daughter of President Yoweri Museveni, making him connected to the first family through marriage.
Gen Muhoozi has nevertheless repeatedly insisted that he does not recognise Rwabwogo as his brother-in-law, describing their relationship in strongly personal terms.
The latest threat comes amid a wider disagreement over PACEID, an organisation chaired by Rwabwogo and established to support Uganda’s export and industrial development agenda.
Gen Muhoozi recently announced that PACEID had been dissolved and said its functions, responsibilities and budget would be taken over by Operation Wealth Creation.
The announcement has been disputed by Rwabwogo, who maintains that PACEID was created by President Museveni and that only the President can terminate its mandate.
Rwabwogo has also defended the organisation against allegations of wrongdoing and questions about its operations.
The dispute has attracted additional political attention after questions were raised about PACEID’s legal status, funding and accountability.
Patriotic League of Uganda executive secretary David Kabanda previously called for greater scrutiny of the organisation and questioned its legal foundation and financial arrangements.
An alleged $14 million payment linked to Rwabwogo has also featured in the controversy, although the Ministry of Finance has not publicly confirmed that such a payment was being processed.
Gen Muhoozi has separately suggested that any such money should instead be directed to the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces to construct accommodation for soldiers.
The CDF’s latest statement has therefore intensified a dispute that began as a disagreement over an advisory organisation and has increasingly included personal accusations and threats.
The use of the term “basement” in the headline reflects the political rhetoric surrounding the statement, while Gen Muhoozi’s publicly reported words specifically referred to arresting Rwabwogo and bringing peace to the people.
The allegations against Rwabwogo have not been established as criminal convictions, and any arrest or prosecution would require the relevant legal process.
The confrontation has also raised questions among observers about the appropriate boundaries between political disagreements, government institutions and family relationships.
For now, Rwabwogo has not publicly responded to the latest threat in the information available, leaving the dispute unresolved.
Gen Muhoozi’s comments are likely to keep attention focused on the fate of PACEID, the alleged financial issues surrounding the organisation and the relationship between the two men.
The dispute also comes at a time when Gen Muhoozi has made several strong public statements concerning government programmes, political actors and matters involving the country’s leadership.
Whether the latest threat results in any formal police action remains unclear, but the statement has significantly raised the stakes in the ongoing confrontation.
As the controversy develops, the public is likely to watch closely for responses from Rwabwogo, PACEID, the Ministry of Finance and other government authorities regarding the allegations and Gen Muhoozi’s claims.
