Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has strongly pushed back against warnings from Washington that the United States may re-evaluate its long-standing security partnership with Uganda.
This comes following a diplomatic row sparked by his recent social media posts. U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch last week issued the warning, accusing Muhoozi of destabilising bilateral ties.
This was after the CDF posted — and later deleted — a series of incendiary messages on X earlier this month.
The posts accused the U.S. Embassy in Kampala of colluding with opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, during or after a controversial January 16 security raid on Wine’s home — allegations the U.S. mission has not publicly confirmed.
Risch said Muhoozi had “crossed a red line”, arguing that the remarks endangered U.S. interests and personnel in the region.
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While Muhoozi later issued an apology, deleted the posts, and said he had been “fed wrong information,” the senator dismissed the move as inadequate and warned that Washington could consider sanctions and a review of military cooperation with Uganda.
General Muhoozi hits back
Reacting to the warning by Risch, President Yoweri Museveni’s son on Tuesday, February 3, issued a defiant response daring him to “re-evaluate whatever you want as far as our co-operation is concerned.”
“My name is not ‘Commander @mkainerugaba’. My name is General Muhoozi Kainerugaba. What ‘Red line’ have I crossed according to you? You can re-evaluate whatever you want as far as our co-operation is concerned but you will never DEMEAN and DEGRADE us. You will never make us your slaves.”
His response comes after Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Acting Defence Public Information Officer and Spokesperson Colonel Chris Magezi rejected Risch’s remarks, framing them as interference in Uganda’s internal affairs.
Ugandan Army dares Senator Jim Risch
Magezi defended Uganda’s democratic mandate and warned against external intimidation, emphasising that his nation and the U.S. share a long-standing partnership of cooperation in defence, security, health, and education.
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The military spokesperson also maintained that the relationship “will not change because of one wayward and loose cannon senator.”
“Uganda is a sovereign and independent country……threats and intimidation by a foreign power in our country’s internal affairs is an outdated colonial tactic that will be vigorously resisted especially coming from a so-called senator,” Magezi said.
Before his apology, General Muhoozi had gone further, announcing a suspension of cooperation between the UPDF and the U.S. mission, including joint regional operations.
Hours later, he backtracked, saying he had spoken with the U.S. Ambassador and that military cooperation would “continue as usual,” framing the reversal as an effort to preserve ties with what he described as “great friends.”
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