The government of Uganda has publicly distanced itself from a series of controversial social media posts made by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) and son of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The remarks, which targeted neighboring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan, have sparked diplomatic tensions and drawn criticism from across the region.
Over the past week, General Muhoozi’s posts on X (formerly Twitter) have stirred outrage, particularly in Sudan and the DRC. The now-deleted tweets included statements threatening military action and comments seen as undermining regional stability.
In one tweet, General Muhoozi warned, “I’m going to give only ONE WARNING to ALL white mercenaries operating in Eastern DR Congo. From 2nd January 2025, we will attack all mercenaries in our area of operations.” The statement was seen as a direct threat to personnel involved in peacekeeping and security operations under the United Nations, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and other entities. These remarks exacerbated existing tensions, as Uganda and Rwanda have faced allegations of backing M23 rebels, a claim both nations deny.
In another inflammatory post, General Muhoozi declared intentions to “capture Khartoum” with the assistance of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, set to assume office in January 2025. “This chaos in Sudan will end soon. If those boys in Khartoum don’t know what war is, they will learn,” he added. The Sudanese government responded strongly, describing the remarks as “reckless and irresponsible” and a violation of international law.
In response to the uproar, Uganda’s Ministry of ICT and National Guidance issued a statement clarifying that General Muhoozi’s remarks do not represent the official position of the Ugandan government. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister of ICT, stated that the posts were “casual and private,” emphasizing that they were not endorsed by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), the Ministry of Defense, or the government.
Government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo joined other officials in condemning the remarks. “Nowhere in the world have we seen a CDF or similar official making such statements. It is a cause of concern,” Opondo remarked. He noted that General Muhoozi’s position as a senior military official requires him to exercise restraint and professionalism in public communications.
This is not the first time General Muhoozi’s social media activity has drawn criticism. In 2022, he made headlines after tweeting threats to capture Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, prompting an official apology from President Museveni. The Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated at the time that Uganda’s foreign policy is not conducted through social media and reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful coexistence and cooperation with neighbors.
Sudan’s government issued a statement condemning General Muhoozi’s comments as a breach of international norms. “The Commander of the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces, son of President Museveni, posted reckless and irresponsible remarks threatening to capture Khartoum. This unprecedented and deviant utterance displays an incredible level of disrespect for international law and the principles of mutual respect between nations,” the statement read.
Similarly, officials in the DRC expressed concern over the implications of Muhoozi’s threats. With ongoing tensions in Eastern DRC involving multiple actors, including peacekeeping forces and local militias, such remarks are viewed as undermining regional peace efforts.
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