By Enyichukwu Enemanna
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has tendered apologies to Kenya after his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba threatened to invade the neighbouring country and capture its capital in two weeks.
“I ask our Kenyan brothers and sisters to forgive us for tweets sent by General Muhoozi,” Museveni said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that public officers should not interfere in the affairs of other countries.
“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 [forums],” he added.
48-year-old Muhoozi Kainerugaba is outspoken on social media, frequently sparring with opposition figures and weighing into politics. He later said he made the comments about Kenya in jest.
Uganda’s opposition and analysts have long believed 78-year-old Museveni, who has ruled the country since 1986, is preparing his son to take over when he retires.
The general was crucial in restoring relations between Uganda and neighbouring Rwanda this year after a nearly two-year row between his father and President Paul Kagame.
Kainerugaba was removed from his post as commander of land forces on Tuesday after sending a flurry of tweets suggesting Uganda and Kenya drop their colonial borders and be united.
“It wouldn’t take us, my army and me, 2 weeks to capture Nairobi,” he wrote.
At the same time, Kainerugaba was promoted to the rank of four-star general to encourage him for his positive contributions, Museveni said, adding that he had spoken to his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, about the matter.
This week, Kainerugaba’s social media posts drew angry reactions from Kenyans and prompted Uganda’s foreign affairs ministry to issue a statement asking Nairobi to disregard his comments.
