Muhoozi Kainerugaba: Ugandan general returns to X to ‘shake the world’

Critics have taken a swipe at the general about the statement he has made on social media, which touches on subjects considered taboo for serving soldiers.

He recently sparked outrage with a tweet in which he threatened to behead the country’s main opposition figure, Bobi Wine.

Announcing his return to the micro-blogging platform on Thursday, General Kainerugaba ordered Ugandan security agencies to arrest anywhere opposition figures were found wearing anything resembling the country’s military uniform.

“And those who do not respect this order … have their own problems,” added the general, who heads Uganda’s ground forces.

He also threatened to deport an unnamed US diplomat, citing his reported failure to “greet” the general.

“My only problem is the US Defense Attaché. If I find him anywhere… and he doesn’t stand up and respect me… I will arrest him immediately!!

The general also wondered what the BBC “said about me”, referring to the corporation’s report on its announcement to quit X last week.

This is the second time Gen Kainerugaba has quit and then returned to the social media platform in three years.

He first left in 2022 but returned days later to continue his social media outbursts, which had previously fueled diplomatic tensions.

In October of that year, he made headlines after he posted a series of tweets threatening to attack neighboring Kenya, comments that forced his father to step in and apologize.

General Kainerugaba’s new post threatened to “cut off” chief Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, drawing widespread condemnation in the country.

Although the general apologized for the post which he described as a joke, Bobi Wine said he cannot take such threats lightly.

The Ugandan government downplayed the post, with a spokesperson describing Gen Kainerugaba’s social media statement as “casual” speech that should not be interpreted as reflecting official policy.

Gen Kainerugaba is widely believed to be the heir to his father, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, although Museveni has denied that he is grooming him for the presidency.

His X account now has over 1,000 followers. The old account has accumulated more than a million followers.

In his return message, he urged his supporters to follow him again.

“I want all of us back. Take them all!”