By Nathan Eyagu 

A public feud between Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi intensified today after the army chief declared that he wants a new opposition leader in Parliament and vowed to see the Nakawa West MP removed from the position.

In a series of posts on X, Gen. Kainerugaba announced that he intended to replace Ssenyonyi, saying his preferred candidate would have his endorsement.

"I want a new leader of the opposition in Parliament. And I will get him. He will be endorsed by me," Gen. Kainerugaba posted.

The remarks drew an immediate response from Kasambya County MP David Kabanda, a member of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), who replied: "Ok Sir. Mine is to implement."

Gen. Kainerugaba responded: "Thank you comrade!"

The CDF later revealed that he had instructed the Patriotic League of Uganda to examine ways of removing Ssenyonyi from office.

"I have instructed PLU to study how to remove @JoelSsenyonyi from being leader of the opposition as soon as possible," he wrote.

The latest statements came amid an escalating exchange between the two leaders, with Gen. Kainerugaba earlier warning that Ssenyonyi and former Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda would be arrested soon.

Responding to criticism in which Ssenyonyi compared him to the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Gen. Kainerugaba rejected the comparison and defended the Uganda People's Defence Forces' record in fighting the rebel group.

"@JoelSsenyonyi before I arrest you, let me educate you, small boy. Do not compare me to the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) of Joseph Kony. We fought them for many years. I know what they were. If I was LRA you would not own your testicles today," Gen. Kainerugaba wrote.

Ssenyonyi fired back, accusing the CDF of surrounding himself with loyalists unwilling to challenge him.

"You are used to bootlickers, that's why you hate those who tell you the truth. Again, your disregard for the rule of law is going to be your downfall... and soon!" Ssenyonyi posted.

In another response, the opposition leader defended his earlier comparison, arguing that both the LRA and Gen. Kainerugaba had invoked religion while engaging in actions he considers unlawful.

"LRA used to commit crime in God's name. You too offend the law and then tell us how you are a descendant of Jesus Christ, as if to insinuate that you do all the wrong you do in His name!!" Ssenyonyi wrote.

The exchange marks the latest escalation in an increasingly bitter war of words between the Chief of Defence Forces and senior opposition figures.

Gen. Kainerugaba has frequently used social media to comment on political affairs, often drawing criticism from opposition leaders and civil society groups over the military's role in politics.