Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has made fresh remarks about the publication of photographs of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) personnel, saying he does not publish pictures of serving military officers but instead focuses on members of opposition political groups.
In his message, Muhoozi said publishing photographs of UPDF officers would be disrespectful to what he described as their God. He insisted that his posts mainly feature opposition figures and political groups rather than members of the national army.
“I don’t publish photos of members of UPDF. That would be insulting our God. I only publish photos of the opposition, e.g. NUP, FDC and so on,” Muhoozi stated.
His comments have attracted attention because they directly mention two of Uganda’s major opposition parties, the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). Both parties have been involved in political activities and public disagreements with the ruling establishment.
The statement also comes amid ongoing political exchanges between Muhoozi and several opposition figures. His social media posts have frequently attracted reactions because of his position as the serving Chief of Defence Forces.
By making the distinction between UPDF officers and opposition members, Muhoozi appeared to be explaining his approach to publishing political photographs. However, he did not provide further details about the circumstances that prompted the latest message.
The remarks are likely to generate further debate about the relationship between the military and Uganda’s political opposition, particularly regarding how political leaders and security institutions communicate publicly.
For now, Muhoozi’s statement has added another controversial contribution to Uganda’s political conversation, with attention likely to remain on his future comments about opposition groups and the UPDF.
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