Eastern Uganda Older Persons MP Ofwono Opondo has responded defiantly to a seven-day ultimatum issued by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, declaring that he has no death wish but will not be intimidated as he revealed Mulanda-Ayago in Tororo District as his preferred burial ground.

The confrontation follows Muhoozi’s angry messages on X, in which he accused Opondo of repeatedly insulting him and demanded a public apology made while kneeling. The army chief also warned that he would teach the legislator who he was, giving him seven days to comply.

Responding to the warning, Opondo spoke about his own mortality and made it clear that he was not afraid to die. “I have not made my death wish, but if this is accurate, the 7th day will find me in Mulanda-Ayago, my preferred burial ground,” he wrote, tagging President Yoweri Museveni, Parliament and the country’s top parliamentary leaders.

The disagreement has been building around the controversial surrender and arrest of retired Lt Gen Peter Elwelu. Muhoozi had accused Elwelu of activities intended to destabilise the country, announced that he had been stripped of his military ranks and demanded that he surrender. Elwelu was subsequently arrested in Soroti City on November 2, with UPDF spokesperson Col Chris Magezi saying he had surrendered following a security operation.

Opondo questioned the circumstances surrounding Elwelu’s surrender, suggesting that there could have been negotiations behind the development. His comments added to the growing public disagreement between the legislator and Muhoozi, particularly over the handling of military matters and the treatment of retired senior officers.

The MP has also repeatedly criticised the growing campaign by the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) to promote Muhoozi as a possible successor to his father, President Museveni. During an appearance on Capital FM’s Capital Gang programme, Opondo questioned why political leaders were already endorsing Muhoozi when Museveni had recently secured another presidential term. He warned that the succession debate could create divisions within the NRM and affect investor confidence.

Opondo’s criticism has extended to allegations of human rights abuses by security personnel, including the reported stripping and public humiliation of suspects. He has called for greater tolerance, dialogue and respect for differing political opinions. The latest confrontation also comes after he announced that he had voluntarily stopped writing his regular opinion column for New Vision, citing disagreements with the newspaper’s editorial direction.

With Muhoozi’s seven-day ultimatum now at the centre of public attention, the country will be watching to see whether Opondo will apologise or maintain his position. His response has transformed what began as a disagreement over Elwelu and political succession into a direct public confrontation between a serving army chief and a sitting legislator.