Editor’s Note: Maurice O. Ndole contributed to this report
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has apologized to Kenyans on behalf of his petulant son and Ugandan army general, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, using kids gloves and feather soft pillow lashings.
“Dear Ugandans, the brotherly people of Kenya, and all East Africans. I greet all of you. I ask our Kenyan brothers and sisters to forgive us for the tweets sent by General Muhoozi,” Museveni said in a tweet.
The statement was posted on Museveni’s website and signed as: “YK Museveni (Gen. Rtd.) The old man with hat,” asked Kenyans to forgive his son, whom he referred to as “General Muhoozi, the former Commander of our land forces here,” Museveni said.
In a weird turn of events, Museveni promoted his son in the middle of the controversy, appearing to reward him despite his disrespectful tweets toward Kenya, President William Ruto, and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
People say he posts when he is under influence. Therefore, he needs parental control. pic.twitter.com/YVPSea5eVN
— Wiskid009 (@wiskid009) October 2, 2022
Many have viewed Museveni’s move as an effort to prepare his son to take over as President upon his impending retirement in 2026.
Before the promotion announcement, Kainerubaga, popularly known by his first name, Muhoozi, sent out a tweet that suggested his father was in on the joke.
“Had a good discussion with my great father this morning. Apparently, my tweets scared Kenyans too much? He will announce the changes. There is a special prayer I shall make for our army,” Kainerubaga tweeted.
The prospect of Kainerugaba becoming the next Ugandan President in 2026 is almost a foregone conclusion. Many Ugandans endorsed him. Campaign-style posters and rally efforts are already underway. Photos of Boda Boda riders with “Muhoozi” plastered on the bikes are posted several times on his Twitter timeline. Many Ugandans have also congratulated him on his promotion to 4-Star-General, calling him “our next President.”
Kainerugaba seems to enjoy the attention. He has re-tweeted hundreds of adoring tweets, some from handles with less than 1000 followers, a puzzling move by such a high-ranking government official.
Shortly after the promotion, Muhoozi changed his Twitter profile to read: Special Presidential Advisor/Special Operations.
Museveni appears to have felt compelled to explain why he promoted his son in his apology letter.
“Why, then, promote him to full General after these comments?” Museveni asked rhetorically.
“This is because this mistake is one aspect where he has acted negatively as a Public officer. There are, however, many other positive contributions the General has made and can still make. This is a time-tested formula –discourage the negative and encourage the positive,” Museveni said, without elaborating on his son’s “many other positive contributions.”
Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for 36 years, apologized to Kenyans but made excuses for his son.
“Very sorry, ndugu zetu Wakenya. Also, sorry to the Ugandans who could have been annoyed by one of their officials meddling in the affairs of brother Kenya. I know for a fact that General Muhoozi is a passionate Pan-Africanist. However, the correct method for Pan-Africanists is confidential interactions or using the available fora (EAC and AU), especially if you are a Public officer,” Museveni said.
Museveni did not comment on his son’s insinuation that he could have helped Kenya’s former President Uhuru Kenyatta violate Kenya’s constitution and serve for a third term.
In another tweet, Kainerubaga appeared to disrespect the Kenyan and Tanzanian presidents.
“After we create our East African Federation. President Museveni will be President, Afande Ruto will be Vice President, [and] my brother Uhuru will be Foreign Affairs Minister. I just want to be CDF of the East African forces,” Kainerugaba tweeted.
It appears the new General does not consider Tanzania part of the East African Community he’s pretending to champion as a Pan-Africanist.
AN OUT-OF-CONTROL PRINCE
Displaying impulsive tweeting habits similar to former US President Donald Trump, Kainerugaba, 48, Monday went on a Twitter rampage against Kenya, threatening to topple the Government of Kenya in Nairobi.
The first son started tweeting at around 5 pm Monday, October 2, by lauding Kenya’s immediate former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Just spoke to my big brother, Afande Uhuru. An incredible man! I love him for his courage, honesty, and intelligence! He will visit Uganda soon,” the General tweeted.
Kainerugaba, however, faulted Kenyatta for not seeking a third term in Kenya. “We would have won easily,” he said.
It’s unclear what Kainerugaba meant when he said “we” since foreigners are not allowed to influence elections in Kenya.
He then went on to mock Kenya’s democracy and the rule of law.
“Haha! I love my Kenyan relatives. Constitution? Rule of law? You must be joking! For us, there is only the Revolution, and you will soon learn about it,” Kainerugaba tweeted.
The military general said he, with his army, would capture Nairobi in two weeks and asked his audience to help him decide whether to live in Westlands or Riverside, once he conquered the Kenyan capital.
The General later changed his time of capture of Nairobi from two weeks to one, and celebrated the fact that he had scared Kenyans.
In a bizarre twist, on October 3, Kainerubaga, who is married, appeared to be making romantic advances toward anti-immigrant leader Giorgia Meloni, who is poised to become the first woman in Italy to become Prime Minister.
Muhoozi appears to have offered 100 cows to as dowry for the Italian politician but said his army would invade Rome if they refused his offer.
“If Romans reject our cows, that means we must capture Rome. That would take us days to do,” Kainerubaga tweeted.
He called his advances to Meloni, God’s plans.
“I think some Kenyans (minority) are very jealous about the cows! It doesn’t matter. They can’t stop Almighty God’s plan!!!,” he said in a tweet.
Many have dismissed the tweets are jokes. But some are wondering whether Kainerubaga can be taken seriously as a leader or if he was under the influence during the tweets sent from an android device.
Others have said Kainerubaga is displaying poor judgment because he is the son of a President who has placed himself above being held accountable.
The father’s move to promote him to a 4-Star General is a head-scratcher, considering the unprofessional conduct that Museveni is unlikely to have tolerated from another government official.
Museveni is known for awarding his immediate family with high-ranking government positions. In 2016, Museveni named his wife, Janet Museveni, the Minister of Education and Sports, a top-tier cabinet position with the largest budget allocation in Uganda.
There appears to be an effort for damage control, with several Ugandan Twitter accounts sending tweets with positive messages about the general. The tweets depict Kainerubaga as a strong military leader.
A Twitter account belonging to veteran Ugandan journalist Andrew Mwenda, who has more than 400,000 followers, tweeted a photos of Kainerubaga in army uniform and appearing to be in a jovial mood, with a glowing message.
“I congratulate my friend, brother, comrade, nephew (according to social media) @mkainerugaba for his well deserved promotion to general. He has served our country with dedication and distinction and he deserves much more than it has given him so far! The struggle continues!,” Andrew M. Mwenda, an Twitter user with more than 400,000 followers said.
I congratulate my friend, brother, comrade, nephew (according to social media) @mkainerugaba for his well deserved promotion to general. He has served our country with dedication and distinction and he deserves much more than it has given him so far! The struggle continues! pic.twitter.com/FRVBZzn1Kg
— Andrew M. Mwenda (@AndrewMwenda) October 4, 2022
Despite the threats, many in Kenya have mocked Kainerubaga, reminding him Kenya’s economy is twice that of Uganda and has a much larger and better-equipped military.
KENYANS’ REACTION
President William Ruto has not responded to the firestorm Kainerubaga has ignited, but he is well represented by Kenyans on Twitta (KOT)
KOT descended on Kainerugaba like a ton of bricks. The tweets came fast and furious, mocking Kainerugaba, his father, President Museveni, and Uganda.
“When Uganda is in crisis, they annex Migingo island. They tell us that the island is ours. But the fish and the water around it is theirs. When Idd Amin was in crisis, he told us that Naivasha is in Uganda. Now they will take Nairobi in 2 weeks. What is their crisis? Mind games?” Posed Prof Mutahi Ngunyi.
Kenyan netizens’ salvos were full of humor, subtle and not-so-subtle mockery.
“The only thing Ugandans can capture from Nairobi is the fake certificate they gave our Governor,” Gabriel Oguda tweeted.
Law professor Makau Mutua in response to Muhoozi’s tweets, said the General is an “abomination.”
“The good people of Uganda must never allow the mentally challenged Muhoozi Kainerugaba anywhere near power. The fellow is an abomination to Uganda and East Africa.”
Muhoozi later responded to the Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) and said: “I forgive you all for the insults you have hurled against me. Please let’s work together to make East Africa great!”
On Tuesday, Bobi Wine, an opposition leader in Uganda who vied unsuccessfully against Museveni, wrote:
Dear Kenyans, you now understand what it means to live in Uganda under Gen. Museveni and his son, whom he gifted the highest military ranks and put him in charge of our land forces! Sadly, beneath the senseless tweets lies a monster who brutalizes and tortures our people for fun!” Wine said.
Kizza Besigye, a political Activist in Uganda who has also unsuccessfully vied for the presidency against Museveni, wrote:
“History repeats itself? Uganda’s Generals seeking to control Kenyan territory: 46 years after Idi Amin, it’s now Gen Muhoozi! That’s why Kenyans can’t take it lightly!”
Later on Tuesday, Alfred Mutua, Kenya’s appointee for the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Ministry, met with Uganda’s High Commissioner to Kenya.
“This morning, I shared a social cup of tea with Amb. Dr. Hassan Galiwango – Uganda High Commissioner to Kenya. We discussed interesting matters. Mambo iko sawa,” Mutua said on Twitter.
After the meeting between Mutua and Galiwango, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Uganda released a statement that said Kenya and Uganda are good neighbors, despite the debate on social media.
“The Ministry wishes to emphasize that the Government and the people of the Republic of Uganda treasure the existing strong bilateral relations between the people and the Government of the Republic of Kenya based on our shared history, common values, mutual respect, trust, and the desire to build a unified East African Community.
To this end, the Government of the Republic of Uganda wishes to reiterate its commitment to good neighborliness, peaceful coexistence, and cooperation.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to clarify that the Government of the Republic of Uganda does not conduct its Foreign Policy and other official business through social media, nor does it depend on social media sources in dealing with other sovereign Governments.
“The Government of the Republic of Uganda, therefore, wishes to reiterate its cordial relationship with the Republic of Kenya and assure the people and the Government of the Republic of Kenya of our harmonious relationship that we value,” the statement read.