General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, has sparked fresh controversy, after declaring Citizens who oppose his father will be banished.
Muhoozi, in a series of posts on X (Formerly Twitter) on Thursday, May 15, threatened to deport Ugandans who vote against or oppose his Father in the upcoming General elections.
" Individuals who do not support Mzee wholeheartedly better be very careful. We will deport all the traitors in public view,” said the Chief of Uganda’s Defense forces.
Kainerugaba, currently the head of the country's military, is widely expected to eventually become his father's chosen successor but is also known for making controversial comments. Museveni apologised to Kenya in 2022 after his son threatened on Twitter to invade the neighbouring country. The series of tweets saw Muhoozi accused of jeopardising relations between the two neighbouring African countries.
Museveni sacked his son as commander of the army's land forces in the wake of the controversy, but also promoted him to four-star general.
In a similar incident, Last year in December, Sudan demanded an official apology from the Government of Uganda for what it referred to as the offensive and dangerous comments published by Muhoozi on the X platform, in which he threatened to seize Khartoum as soon as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sudan also called on the African Union and regional and international organizations to condemn these statements, and what they entail in terms of a clear threat to regional and international security and an insult to Africans.
According to the statement, the Sudanese foreign ministry considered the Ugandan army chief’s comments reckless, and irresponsible and said “They represent a complete departure from the rules of conduct of those occupying senior official and military positions, including prudence, discipline, and choice of words.”
“These comments embody an abnormal precedent and a regrettable level of disregard for international law, the norms of dealing between states, and the requirements of mutual respect between brotherly and friendly peoples,” the statement read in part.
Relatedly, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had a few days earlier summoned Uganda’s Acting Chargé d’Affaires in Kinsasha, Matata Twaha Magara, seeking clarification on recent remarks made by Gen. Kainerugaba concerning President Félix Tshisekedi and the alleged presence of foreign mercenaries in eastern DRC.
The meeting, initiated by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, was prompted by a series of posts on X by General Kainerugaba. Among them was a controversial statement issued on 16 December 2024: “I’m going to give only ONE WARNING to ALL white mercenaries operating in eastern DRC. From 2nd January 2025, we will attack all mercenaries in our area of operations.”
He added: “In the name of Jesus Christ, the God of all Bachwezi, there shall not be left one white mercenary in DRC this time next year!”
Gen. Kainerugaba is renowned for his controversial posts on X, some of which have led to diplomatic tensions in the region.
Uganda's opposition has long accused Museveni of seeking to impose a monarchy on Uganda -- a claim the president denies.
Museveni, 81, has ruled Uganda since 1986 and has changed the constitution twice to extend his rule.
Human rights activists and his political opponents including pop star turned politician Bobi Wine have long accused Museveni of using security forces to jail, intimidate or torture opposition supporters.
Museveni denies such accusations.
Wine came second in the last presidential election in 2021. He rejected the results, alleging ballot stuffing, intimidation and abductions of his supporters.
Museveni called it Uganda's fairest-ever vote.
The east African country is due to hold a general election in January, and there has been a mounting crackdown on the opposition in recent months.
