Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, has sparked controversy on social media after she took to her X platform to celebrate Charity Bainababo, the Commander of the Police Presidential Guard (PPG). This unit, which falls under the Special Forces Command (SFC), is tasked with protecting the First Lady and other significant government figures.
Charity, commonly known as Brigadier General, was recently elevated to her current rank by President Museveni, having previously held the rank of Colonel. This promotion also included her new role as the deputy of the Special Forces Command, a position that was previously occupied by Brig. Felix Busizoori, who is now the Acting SFC commander.
Busizoori succeeded Brig. Peter Chandia, who was chosen to attend the Uganda National Defense College as one of its pioneering students. Bainanababo has experienced rapid advancement in her military career, moving from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel through a promotion from President Museveni in 2024.
She has become one of the most well-known female officers, which made Byanyima’s congratulatory message unsurprising, given her long-standing advocacy for increased female participation in leadership roles. Nevertheless, this prompted many in the public to question her decision.
Byanyima’s praise for Bainababo came from the recent function, the third graduation ceremony of the National Defence College- Uganda (NDCU) in Buikwe district which President Museveni presided over.
This 3rd cohort consisted of 22 graduates who successfully completed the National Security and Strategic Studies course (the NDC Course). Apparently, the 22 include two female officers; Brig Gen. Charity Bainababo and Col. Betty Wanyera Musuya and one civilian Mr. Ronnie Smurts Amoro, a Principal Policy Analyst in the Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs (MoDVA).
Social media users were therefore puzzled as to how Byanyima could commend individuals who have been responsible for holding her husband, Dr. Col Kiiza Besigye, in captivity for over seven months.
“You can’t be the same person praising the same people incarcerating your husband,” one social media user lashed out.
“These are the people incarcerating your husband!” Said another.
“Why do you keep confusing opposition people? All they want is to abuse and criticize whether good or bad. Why don’t you do what they want so that they may trust you?,” went another.
This is not the first instance where Byanyima has faced criticism from those who feel she is too accommodating towards the regime that she and her husband claim to oppose. Some critics argue that she is not sufficiently aggressive in her stance, even in light of her numerous criticisms of the Museveni administration.
