Ex-army commander Muntu defends capacity to pacify, maintain peace in Uganda

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Former Uganda army commander Mugisha Muntu, who is campaigning to become President in the 2026 General election, has assured Ugandans of his capacity to maintain the peace being enjoyed under President Yoweri Museveni's rule.

The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential flag-bearer, while campaigning at Alero town board in Alero sub-county, Nwoya district, on November 5, 2025, said there won't be war if Museveni loses the election, a concern that has been simmering among voters who questioned Muntu’s capacity to handle peace and security. Museveni is seeking re-election under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag.

It all started when Alero resident Doreen Apiro asked how Muntu was prepared to protect lives and give security to citizens’ property in case President Museveni lost an election early next year, in January.

“President Museveni has given us peace and security since the end of a 20-year war by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led by Joseph Kony, and we are just starting to resettle. How are you going to protect us?” Apiro said.

In response, Muntu said, “We are heading on a slippery path, and he (President Museveni) is trying to create a monarchy in a republican government, which cannot work.”

“Gen. Museveni is no longer a destabilising agent to cause insecurity in the country even if he lost an election today or in 2026,” Muntu said.

"He is now old and in his advanced age to engage in violent struggle for power anymore, like when he was still young and energetic. He no longer has people to sacrifice and die for him like we did in Luwero when he was still focused on a good, just and equitable Uganda.”

While he often refers to the historical context of his own 1981-1986 “bush war" liberation struggle, Museveni’s current stance has been focused on institutional stability, building a strong and professional army to maintain peace, rather than a return to guerrilla warfare.

President Museveni's recent statements on Uganda’s stability emphasised national security, economic transformation and rule of law through formal institutions, suggesting a shift away from advocating armed conflict as a solution to internal political problems in a modern Uganda.

The Acholi region has historically been a complex area for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, with some districts showing strong support for NRM while others have been more lukewarm.

In the 2021 presidential election, President Museveni garnered 6,042,898 votes (58.38%) of the total votes cast across the eight districts of Acholi, according to the 2021 final results published by the Electoral Commission.

Muntu's comments come at a time when the region is still grappling with the effects of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency, which ravaged the area for over two decades.

The conflict led to the displacement of millions of people, and many are still struggling to rebuild their lives. The region's economy is also lagging, with high poverty rates and limited access to basic services like healthcare and education.

There have, however, been several efforts by both the Government of Uganda and development partners in reviving the region and empowering residents economically and socially through projects like the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF): A series of government and World Bank-supported projects focused on poverty reduction, social protection and post-conflict recovery. The finance ministry has earmarked shillings 963.2 billion to fund NUSAF IV. Other initiatives are Emyooga, Parish Development Model and the Youth Livelihood Fund.

Samuel Baker Opuyo, another resident, said Muntu's statement is seen as a calming factor, reassuring voters that the country's democratic process will be respected regardless of the outcome.

Museveni has enjoyed significant support in Acholi in past elections. In 2021, he won the presidential election in the region with 58.38% of the vote, beating his closest rival, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, aka Bobi Wine, who garnered 19% of the vote.

Opuyo insisted that the region's support for Museveni can be attributed to various factors, including the peace and stability that have prevailed since the end of the LRA insurgency.

“The President has also implemented various development projects in the region, including marram roads, schools and healthcare facilities much as they are still a bit distant from each other.

Opuyo revealed that the region's economy is largely dependent on subsistence farming, which makes it vulnerable to climate change and other external shocks.

“As a former army commander who fought alongside Museveni during the bush war, Muntu's words carry significant weight,” he said.

While campaigning at Nakaseke town council in Nakaseke district on Monday, November 3, 2025, Muntu assured voters that he would protect Museveni after his retirement, should he win the presidency, signalling Muntu's commitment to promoting peace and stability in the country.