Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has renewed his criticism of National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, after claiming that the opposition politician avoided a boxing challenge he had previously issued.

In a social media post, Muhoozi said he had challenged Bobi Wine to a boxing match but claimed that the singer-turned-politician instead travelled to the United States. He used the development to question the opposition leader’s courage.

“I challenged Kabobi to a boxing match and he fled to the USA. I always knew he was a coward and weakling,” Muhoozi wrote.

The army chief did not stop at the boxing challenge. He went on to issue another challenge, this time proposing a general knowledge and spelling contest between himself and the NUP president.

The latest remarks have added another chapter to the public exchanges between Muhoozi and Bobi Wine, who have repeatedly found themselves on opposite sides of Uganda’s political debate.

Bobi Wine, who has remained one of the most prominent opposition figures in the country, has previously criticised the government’s leadership and questioned the role of the military in Uganda’s politics.

Muhoozi’s comments have since attracted attention because they move the confrontation beyond political disagreements and into personal challenges involving physical strength, general knowledge and spelling abilities.

The proposed contests have also generated discussion online, with Ugandans reacting differently to the army chief’s remarks and questioning whether either of the challenges will ever take place.