First son Muhoozi Kainerugaba to Besigye: Yes, we were refugees; you and my brilliant father saved us

First son Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has admitted his family members were refugees in Sweden during the five-year National Resistance Army (NRA) bush war.

Lt Gen Kainerugaba also praised his father Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni, his former personal physician Dr Kizza Besigye and all fighters whose sacrifices he says saved them from refugee life.

Besigye and Kainerugaba have for days been embroiled in a war of words after the opposition leader called out the first family over involvement in procurement of oxygen plants.

He relied on a Covid19 interventions report issued by the Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit (BMAU) of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Mofped) to criticize the Museveni family over the irregularities.

Silverbacks Pharmacy Ltd, the company involved in the oxygen plants ‘bonanza,’ is owned by foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa’s daughters: Ishta Asiimwe Muganga and Charlotte Nankunda Kainerugaba.

The latter is wife to the first son.

In response to Besigye’s criticism, Kainerugaba told his father’s fiercest critic to “leave my wife alone.”

He also alluded to a 1985 visit Besigye made alongside the then bush war leader at the Museveni’s home in Sweden.

Besigye hit back at the first son, reminding him the Musevenis stayed in Sweden as refugees.

In his latest response to Besigye, Kainerugaba has admitted the Musevenis were indeed refugees. He saluted Museveni, Besigye and all bush war fighters for their efforts towards sanitizing Uganda’s politics and ensuring several refugees returned home.

“As for being refugees, for sure me and my family were. Just like millions of other Ugandans at that time,” noted Kainerugaba.

“However, thanks to the brilliant leadership of Mzee Museveni and the NRA, which you were part of, those millions were able to return.”