The commander of Uganda’s infantry forces, Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, was sacked on Tuesday by President Yoweri Museveni, his father, following a tweet about Kenya, which provoked strong reactions.
Kainerugaba is said to have threatened, on Monday, October 3, to seize Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, in a short time. “It wouldn’t take me, my army and two weeks to capture Nairobi,” he said. He also reportedly wondered which area of Nairobi would he live in after his army captured the city.
Faced with the controversy provoked by these remarks among Kenyans, the head of Ugandan diplomacy tried to calm the situation by affirming that his country is keen on “peaceful coexistence” with Kenya.
It is not a first for Kainerugaba to post tweets that implicate other countries. A few weeks ago, he also made remarks defying the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Some Ugandans also denounce these provocative, undiplomatic and even dangerous outings on social networks.
Kainerugaba was replaced at the head of the land forces by General Muhanga Kayanja, who had previously commanded the Ugandan troops deployed in eastern DRC to fight the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF, a Ugandan rebellion active in this neighboring country).
If he was somehow punished, Kainerugaba was at the same time promoted to the rank of five-star general, while remaining a military adviser to his father.
President Museveni is suspected of preparing his son to take his place thereafter. But Kainerugaba’s reckless actions could well cost him dearly should he actually embark on a race for the highest office.
By OMA Newsletter N° 886 of 06/10/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
