KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has threatened that Kampala could retaliate against any U.S. sanctions imposed on him or the country, in an escalation of diplomatic tensions following criticism of Uganda’s recent elections by senior American lawmakers.
In a series of posts on X late Sunday, Gen. Muhoozi said that if “spoilers in the USA” sanctioned him or Uganda, the country would “respond by sanctioning them too,” adding that while Uganda seeks peace, it retains the capacity to “defeat any invader.”
The warning follows growing scrutiny in Washington over the conduct of Uganda’s elections and its human rights record.
Jim Risch, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, described Uganda’s recent polls as a “hollow exercise” and urged the U.S. administration to reassess its security relationship with Kampala.
Risch specifically mentioned Gen. Muhoozi in his call for a review of potential sanctions, citing the use of political violence, intimidation of opponents, and misuse of state resources.
“While Uganda remains a key regional security partner, its leadership prioritises domestic control through political violence,” Risch said, warning that the country’s trajectory could affect stability in neighbouring South Sudan. He also noted that Tanzania was showing “similar paths,” raising concerns for upcoming elections in the region.
Gen. Muhoozi’s remarks represent his most direct public response to potential U.S. sanctions, framing the issue as a matter of sovereignty and reciprocity rather than compliance with Western pressure.
Analysts say the rhetoric underscores a growing willingness among senior Ugandan officials to push back against U.S. criticism.
Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Adonia Ayebare, attempted a more conciliatory tone, asserting that no external actor could impose sanctions on Gen. Muhoozi and emphasizing that relations between Kampala and Washington remain “strong and mutually beneficial.”
He highlighted longstanding cooperation on regional security and commercial interests.
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While no sanctions have been announced, experts warn that the public exchange increases diplomatic stakes and could complicate military and security cooperation if the rhetoric escalates into policy measures.
The United States has previously applied targeted sanctions against Ugandan officials over alleged human rights abuses under tools such as the Global Magnitsky Act.
In 2021, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Abel Kandiho, the former head of military intelligence, accusing him of involvement in serious violations, including torture.
Visa restrictions and other punitive measures have also affected senior security and police figures linked to election-related violence and repression.
