Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has demanded an apology from Minister for Water and Environment Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire over remarks the veteran general made in Parliament about resolving political disagreements without violence.
Muhoozi initially gave Otafiire one week to apologise, but on Friday, October 2, he shortened the deadline to three days, saying the earlier period was too generous.
Otafiire made the remarks on September 30 while addressing Parliament on the performance of the Water and Environment sector for the 2025/26 financial year.
The minister said disagreements were normal but argued that the real challenge was how they were resolved.
“The whole mark of civilisation is how people resolve contradiction without violence. When you see a General who prefers violence as the best means of solving problems, then there is a problem,” Otafiire said.
He added that the greatest generals were those who resolved problems “without shooting a bullet.”

Otafiire did not mention Muhoozi by name during the parliamentary address. However, his comments were interpreted by some commentators as a possible reference to the CDF, particularly against the background of previous public disagreements between the two generals.
Muhoozi subsequently responded on X, saying: “I hear my junior MG. Otafiire made some statements in parliament against me. I’m giving him exactly 1 week to apologise to me or else he will see.”
He later followed up by reducing the deadline, writing: “One week is too long, he has 3 days to apologise.”
Beyond the disputed remarks, Otafiire used his parliamentary address to call for political tolerance. He urged members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to be “magnanimous in victory” and described the opposition as a “mirror of reflection” through which the ruling party can assess itself.
The latest exchange adds to previous public disagreements involving Muhoozi and Otafiire, including differences over Muhoozi’s political ambitions.
Remarks by Maj Gen (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire as he delivered his maiden speech in the 12th Parliament today. pic.twitter.com/aiY771Bg5l
— Joel Ssenyonyi (@JoelSsenyonyi) September 30, 2026













