The leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine has urged Ugandans to distance themselves from the harmful practices of corruption and tribalism.
Bobi argues that these two issues are being exploited by the current regime to keep the population divided and distracted from their aspirations for change.
He made these comments during a discussion on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday evening, in response to the recent alleged abduction and torture of his bodyguard, Edward Ssebufu, popularly known as Eddie Mutwe.
Mutwe went missing last week under suspicious circumstances. Few days after his disappearance, the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, posted on X claiming that Mutwe was being held captive by the elite Special Forces Command (SFC) soldiers in a basement in Makindye.
Muhoozi's post included images of Muntwe with a shaved head, appearing visibly distressed.
The message which NUP perceived as ridiculing Mutwe further suggested he was being coerced into learning Runyankore, a language spoken in Western Uganda, and warned Kyagulanyi that he might face a similar fate.
Following Gen Muhoozi's comments about teaching Muntwe "Runyankole," there has been a surge of tribal discussions and sentiments on social media, particularly targeting those from the Western region of Uganda, where Gen. Muhoozi also hails.
During last night's X Spaces, Kyagulanyi urged Ugandans not to buy into the narrative that the regime is torturing opposition members on behalf of the Ankole people.
"He (Gen Muhoozi) is trying to put the good people of Ankole into harm's way by posing as if he is torturing on their behalf, as if he's killing on their behalf, as if he's stealing on their behalf. And we must resist that," Kyagulanyi said.
"We must resist that because unity is a weapon that he wants to snatch out of our hands. I want in the same place to call upon my brothers and sisters to disassociate themselves with this evil that, Museveni son is representing, is using to mis misrepresent you." he added.
He also called on elders and religious leaders to join the fight against tribalism, emphasising that this vice does not reflect the identity and cultural values of Ugandans.
"Please disassociate with the tribalism because that's not who you are. I want to call upon the elders, the leaders, religious and traditional leaders to raise their voice in such a sensitive time."