Kampala, UG: Uganda’s First Son and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has warned that no government official is untouchable as the ongoing “Operation Maliza Ufisadi” expands into what appears to be one of the most aggressive anti-graft crackdowns in recent years.
In a series of strongly-worded posts published on his official X account on Tuesday, the army chief claimed that the operation had already recovered “quite a lot” of public money and property allegedly stolen through corruption networks.
“‘Operation Maliza Ufisadi’ has just begun, and already we have retrieved quite a lot of the people’s money and property. Everything will be returned to the Treasury. I will give a partial report soon,” Muhoozi posted.
“I advise all government officials to co-operate fully with the security services…in order to avoid arrest,” he added.
The CDF declared that President Museveni had granted the anti-corruption operation sweeping powers to arrest virtually anyone in the country. “The President allowed this Operation to arrest anybody in Uganda except the President and First Lady. Everybody else in this country can be arrested,” he wrote.
The remarks are likely to further heighten anxiety within government circles as security agencies continue conducting investigations, raids and interrogations linked to alleged corruption and abuse of office.
The operation has in recent days increasingly dominated national political discussion following high-profile security actions linked to Parliament and officials associated with former Speaker Anita Among.
Kampala roads now under CDF control
Gen Muhoozi also announced that the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) would now directly take charge of Kampala’s road infrastructure budget, citing decades of alleged corruption and mismanagement within the capital city.
“I shall say one more thing today. The entire budget for roads in Kampala will be under my control (CDF). I will determine who builds and repairs roads,” he declared, signalling a potentially major shift in control over infrastructure projects in Kampala, traditionally handled through civilian institutions, including Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the Ministry of Works.
Blames flooding on corruption
The outspoken army chief further blamed Kampala’s persistent flooding crisis on decades of corruption, illegal wetland destruction and poor urban planning.
“You allow thieves to never build drainage systems in Kampala for 40 years, then you allow them to build in God’s natural drainage system…the wetlands! Why wouldn’t Kampala flood?” Muhoozi questioned.
“From now on stealing from Kampala will be equivalent to stealing from Jesus Christ! They will pay,” he warned.
Heavy flooding has repeatedly affected Kampala during rainy seasons, with experts attributing the problem to blocked drainage channels, wetland encroachment, poor waste management and rapid unplanned urbanisation.
Fresh attack on Lukwago
Muhoozi also used the posts to launch another attack on Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, whom he blamed for years of governance failures in the capital.
“Floods in Kampala have been caused by 40 years of corruption in the city. We had idiots like Lukwago for 25 years! That is changing now. UPDF is taking charge,” he posted.
The remarks are likely to deepen tensions between the military-linked PLU political movement associated with Muhoozi and opposition leaders in Kampala.
Growing political influence
The latest statements further reinforce Muhoozi’s rapidly growing political and administrative influence within Uganda’s governance structure.
Beyond his role as CDF, Muhoozi has increasingly positioned himself at the centre of national political discourse through the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a civic-political movement whose influence has recently expanded within Parliament and sections of government.
In recent weeks, Muhoozi has openly intervened in parliamentary leadership politics, corruption debates, infrastructure governance and succession discussions, making him one of the most dominant political voices in the country.
Analysts say “Operation Maliza Ufisadi” now appears to be evolving beyond a conventional anti-corruption campaign into a broader political and governance restructuring process with direct military backing.
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