“Removing Him Is the Simplest Thing We Can Do!” Andrew Mwenda Warns as PLU Targets Otafiire’s Political Future

Political commentator Andrew Mwenda has intensified the political confrontation between the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) and veteran minister Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, warning that the organisation has the power to push individuals it considers hostile to its interests out of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). Mwenda suggested that Otafiire could face serious political consequences if PLU decides to use its influence against him.

Mwenda’s remarks come amid growing tensions between Otafiire, the Minister of Water and Environment, and Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces and chairman of PLU. The disagreement has exposed emerging divisions within the ruling establishment, with questions being raised about the organisation’s growing influence and its ability to shape political decisions within the NRM.

Speaking during a media interview, Mwenda portrayed PLU as a powerful political force capable of challenging established figures within the ruling party. He described some individuals opposed to the organisation as “bad apples” and suggested that removing them would not be a difficult task if PLU decided to take action against those it considers obstacles to its ambitions.

“We are tougher cookies,” Mwenda said, expressing confidence in the organisation’s political strength. He claimed that Otafiire could be removed from Cabinet and even face a political challenge in his Ruhinda constituency if PLU mobilised its supporters against him. However, his remarks do not confirm that a formal decision has been made to remove the minister.

The dispute gained momentum after Otafiire publicly criticised the use of violence to settle political disagreements. Although the veteran minister did not explicitly mention Muhoozi when questioning the conduct of a general he accused of favouring violence, the CDF reportedly interpreted the comments as a personal attack and demanded an apology, accompanied by a warning of unspecified consequences.

Otafiire subsequently distanced himself from PLU and delivered a defiant response, declaring that he would rather die fighting than live begging. The minister’s remarks further exposed the strained relationship between him and Muhoozi’s political camp, raising questions about whether the disagreement could develop into a broader contest for influence within the NRM.

The confrontation escalated after PLU official David Kabanda called for Otafiire’s removal from government and indicated that he could ask Muhoozi to reconsider the organisation’s alliance with the ruling party. Kabanda, however, clarified that he was expressing his personal opinion. Mwenda also drew comparisons with former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, suggesting that political networks supporting prominent individuals could be weakened when powerful forces within the ruling establishment turn against them.

Despite the strong language, it remains unclear whether PLU intends to pursue a coordinated campaign to remove Otafiire from Cabinet or challenge his political position in Ruhinda. Nevertheless, Mwenda’s warning has added a new dimension to the dispute, highlighting the growing tensions between the veteran minister and Muhoozi’s supporters at a time when political succession, influence and the future direction of the NRM remain subjects of intense public debate.