President Museveni’s son and Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has sparked fresh diplomatic tension after a heated exchange with U.S. senator Jim Risch.
The escalating tension follows a week of controversy involving opposition leader Bobi Wine and the U.S. Embassy in Kampala.
What Happened?
Last week, Kainerugaba took to X (formerly Twitter) accusing the U.S. Embassy in Uganda of aiding the alleged disappearance of Bobi Wine.
In a series of inflammatory posts, he declared the opposition leader “wanted dead or alive” and announced a suspension of cooperation with the United States.
Kainerugaba later deleted the posts and issued a public apology, claiming to have held talks with U.S. Ambassador William Popp, describing the exchange as constructive and aimed at de-escalating tensions.
However, the apology failed to impress U.S. Senator Jim Risch, the chairperson of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Risch dismissed the apology as “hollow,” calling for sanctions against Ugandan officials and urging Washington to re-evaluate its diplomatic and military ties with Kampala.
Muhoozi Fires Back
Kainerugaba responded defiantly, rejecting what he described as condescension and external pressure from the United States.
“What ‘red line’ have I crossed according to you? You can re-evaluate whatever you want as far as our cooperation is concerned but you will never DEMEAN and DEGRADE us. You will never make us your slaves,” Kainerugaba wrote on X.
The exchange has reignited debate over Uganda–U.S. relations, placing the relations of the two countries under strain.
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