Toting sub-machine guns and sometimes wearing masks while driving through the streets, members of Uganda's elite Special Forces Command (SFC) are increasingly perceived as a private army operating on behalf of President Yoweri Museveni. The 81-year-old leader has maintained a tight grip on power since his rise in 1986, coming under scrutiny for alleged electoral malpractice and human rights violations. As elections approach, concerns rise about the SFC's role in suppressing opposition activities, reminiscent of tactics used in the previous election cycle.
Led until recently by Museveni's son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the SFC is accused by critics of engaging in abductions, torture, and extrajudicial killings of political dissidents—a claim the unit denies. Criticism of the SFC's operations has increased, with its perceived loyalty to the Museveni family raising alarm among senior military officials.
As Gen. Kainerugaba consolidates control over the military, tensions simmer between his forces and the regular army, potentially setting the stage for a conflict mirroring situations in other nations where power struggles have led to civil unrest. Analysts point to the SFC's motto emphasizing loyalty as a reflection of its commitment to ensuring the Museveni regime's survival against both internal and external threats.
Despite Museveni's insistence that the SFC serves the nation, opponents argue that it exemplifies a family dynasty that imposes a dictatorial rule over Uganda. With the SFC now officially recognized as a military branch, critics fear its legitimacy affirms a system that enforces oppression.
As political tensions rise, the future of Uganda hangs in the balance, raising pressing questions about the country's trajectory following Museveni's eventual exit. Will stability persist under the baton of his son, or will the entrenched conflicts along ethnic and military lines ignite a new wave of violence?
