KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has issued a defiant response to warnings from Washington that the United States could reconsider its long-standing security partnership with Kampala, escalating a rare and public diplomatic standoff between the two allies.
The confrontation follows a sharp exchange on social media triggered by comments from a senior US lawmaker, after General Muhoozi posted – and later deleted – remarks accusing the US Embassy in Kampala of interfering in Uganda’s internal affairs.
On January 31, 2026, US Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned that General Muhoozi had crossed a “red line” and urged Washington to reassess its military and security cooperation with Uganda, including the possibility of sanctions.
“The president’s son, and likely successor, cannot just delete tweets and issue hollow apologies,” Senator Risch wrote. “The U.S. will not tolerate this level of instability and recklessness.”
The dispute began after General Muhoozi, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni, alleged on X that the US Embassy had helped opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, leave the country or had otherwise interfered in Uganda’s domestic politics.
He later deleted the posts and issued an apology, saying he had been misinformed and had spoken directly with the US Ambassador.
“Cooperation will continue as normal,” he added.
Senator Risch, however, dismissed the apology as insufficient, directly tagging General Muhoozi’s account while citing a Daily Monitor article to reinforce his criticism.
The standoff escalated further on Tuesday, February 3, when General Muhoozi responded publicly, rejecting the senator’s warning and challenging Washington to proceed with any review it deemed necessary.
“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 remarks came after Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Acting Defence Public Information Officer and spokesperson, Colonel Chris Magezi, also pushed back against Senator Risch’s comments, describing them as foreign interference.
“Uganda is a sovereign and independent country,” Colonel Magezi wrote in a February 1 post.
“The people of Uganda, expressing themselves in a free and fair democratic election, recently re-elected President Yoweri Museveni and other leaders to lead them for the next five years. It was an overwhelming mandate in which the President obtained 72% electoral backing.”
He added that the UPDF owes allegiance to the President and to decisions made by Ugandans through constitutional processes.
Colonel Magezi characterised Senator Risch’s remarks as threats and intimidation, calling them an outdated colonial-style approach that Uganda would resist.
He also pointed to decades of cooperation between Uganda and the United States in areas including counterterrorism, regional security, public health and education.
Also Read: US senator warns Uganda relations at risk after Gen Muhoozi’s tweets
“The beneficial relationship between our two countries will not change because of one wayward and loose cannon senator,” he concluded.
Despite mounting diplomatic tension, General Muhoozi showed no sign of retreat, reiterating his position and publicly correcting Senator Risch on the use of his title, further underlining the increasingly personal tone of the dispute.
The episode places renewed strain on US–Uganda relations at a time when Washington has been voicing growing concern over governance, human rights and civil-military relations in the East African nation.
