Washington, D.C. – The U.S. may reconsider its long-standing security partnership with Uganda following incendiary social media posts by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni, U.S. lawmakers warned.
In a post on X on Saturday, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch said Muhoozi “crossed a red line” by accusing the U.S. Embassy in Kampala of colluding with opposition leader Bobi Wine during a security operation earlier this month.
“Commander Muhoozi Kainerugaba has crossed a red line, and now the U.S. must reevaluate its security partnership, which includes sanctions and military cooperation with Uganda,” Risch said. “The president’s son, and likely successor, cannot just delete tweets and issue hollow apologies. The U.S. will not tolerate this level of instability and recklessness when American personnel, U.S. interests, and innocent lives in the region are at stake.”
Commander @mkainerugaba has crossed a red line and now the U.S. must reevaluate its security partnership, which includes sanctions, and military cooperation with Uganda. The president’s son, and likely successor, cannot just delete tweets and issue hollow apologies. The U.S. will
Muhoozi initially accused U.S. diplomats of backing Wine during or after a January 16 raid on the opposition leader’s home.
He also announced a suspension of cooperation between the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and the U.S. mission, including joint regional operations.
Hours later, however, he backtracked, claiming he had been misinformed and that cooperation with U.S. forces would “continue as usual,” framing his reversal as an effort to preserve ties with what he called “great friends.”
Risch dismissed Muhoozi’s apology as “hollow” and insufficient, signaling broader concern in Washington about Uganda’s political climate.
The warnings come amid growing scrutiny over Uganda’s January 15 presidential election, which President Museveni won by a wide margin.
Critics, including some U.S. officials, have described the polls as illegitimate, citing allegations of election-related violence, arrests, and harassment of opposition supporters, particularly those aligned with Bobi Wine and the National Unity Platform.
Tensions between Kampala and Washington have been rising, raising questions about the future of U.S.-Uganda military and security cooperation in the region.
