US weighs review of security ties with Uganda after Muhoozi tweets

The United States has said it is considering a review of its security partnership with Uganda following controversial social media posts by Uganda’s military chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni.

US Senator Jim Risch, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the posts had crossed what he described as a “red line” and called for a reassessment of military cooperation and aid relations with Uganda.

The remarks followed an apology issued by General Muhoozi on Friday, January 30, 2026, over posts on X that had raised concern at the US Embassy in Uganda.

In his statement, General Muhoozi said he had been misinformed and assured that relations between Uganda and the United States remained intact.

“I want to apologise to our great friends, the United States, for my earlier tweets that I have now deleted. I was being fed with wrong information. I have spoken with the US ambassador to our country, and everything is okay. We are going to continue our military cooperation as usual,” he said.

Despite the apology, Senator Risch said the United States would not ignore the incident.

“Commander Kainerugaba has crossed a red line and now the US 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 senator said.

Risch added that the posts were, in his view, reckless and posed risks to regional stability and US interests.

“The US will not tolerate this level of instability and recklessness when American personnel, US interests, and innocent lives in the region are at stake,” he said.

The posts reportedly contained remarks referring to the US Embassy in Uganda, prompting diplomatic engagement in Kampala and the subsequent apology.

General Muhoozi has previously attracted public controversy.

In recent days, Uganda’s opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, accused the general of issuing threats against him. Kyagulanyi made the claims publicly, but they have not been independently verified.

Kyagulanyi, who said he was in hiding following the recently concluded general elections, stated that his security situation had worsened and alleged abuses by security forces against opposition supporters and members of his family.

“Thankfully, our people are still keeping me safe,” Kyagulanyi said.

“My wife is still recovering from the trauma of an overnight raid and assault. Thousands of our people have been violently arrested and detained. My home is still surrounded by the military. Several of our supporters have been murdered in cold blood.”

His remarks followed statements by General Muhoozi indicating that security forces had resumed efforts to locate him.

In posts on X, the general said the operation had been temporarily halted for 24 hours on the instructions of President Museveni but later resumed following new orders issued to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

“Our troops had stopped the search for 24 hours,” Muhoozi wrote.

“Apparently, according to some sources, he wanted to surrender peacefully. He hasn't surrendered anywhere. Now our troops have orders to bring him in dead or alive.”