Political commentator Andrew Mwenda has issued a strong warning to Water and Environment Minister Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, claiming that the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) has the political strength to push its opponents out of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). Mwenda suggested that Otafiire could become a major target as the organisation seeks greater influence within the party.
Mwenda made the remarks amid growing tensions between Otafiire and Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces and chairman of PLU. The disagreement has raised questions about the balance of power within the ruling establishment and the growing influence of Muhoozi’s political supporters.
According to Mwenda, PLU intends to use its influence within the NRM to remove individuals it considers hostile to its ambitions. He described some of those figures as “bad apples” and identified Otafiire as one of the people who could face political consequences if the organisation decides to act.
“We are tougher cookies,” Mwenda said during a media interview, claiming that PLU was among the most powerful political organisations in Uganda. He added that Otafiire could be removed from Cabinet and even challenged in his Ruhinda constituency if PLU decided to pursue that route.
The confrontation follows Otafiire’s public criticism of the use of violence in resolving political disagreements. Although he did not name Muhoozi when he questioned the conduct of a general who allegedly preferred violence, Muhoozi interpreted the remarks as being directed at him and demanded an apology, warning of unspecified consequences.
Otafiire later distanced himself from PLU and declared that he would rather die fighting than live begging. The dispute attracted further attention after PLU official David Kabanda called for the minister’s removal from government and said he could ask Muhoozi to reconsider the organisation’s alliance with the NRM. Kabanda said he was expressing his personal opinion.
Mwenda argued that Otafiire’s political influence could be weakened if the network supporting him within the ruling party were dismantled. He also compared the situation to that of former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, invoking a past political rivalry to underline his warning. However, his comments do not establish that a formal plan to remove Otafiire has been adopted by the NRM leadership.
The remarks come as debate over political succession and PLU’s ambitions continues to attract attention. Whether the organisation will attempt to remove Otafiire from Cabinet or challenge his parliamentary seat remains uncertain, but Mwenda’s comments have intensified the public dispute between the veteran minister and Muhoozi’s political camp.
