Renson Mwakandana
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba of Uganda has apologized to Kenyan President William Ruto for recent tweets he made about Kenya that sparked a major diplomatic uproar.
Gen Muhoozi wrote on his Twitter page late on Thursday night saying that he has never had any issues with Ruto and as his younger brother, he begged Ruto pardon him if he had made any mistakes.
Gen. Muhoozi’s close friend and Uganda’s minister for agriculture congratulated the general for his public apology.
“Thank you Gen. Kainerugaba for this statement to try and clear any would be misunderstanding. I, personally, know how far back your friendship with H.E William Ruto goes. Both Excellencies Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta are great friends of Uganda,” he said adding, “Ni marafiki wetu wazuri (They are our good friends).”
Insensitive remarks from Gen. Muhoozi last week that were directed at Kenya and President Ruto generated a diplomatic uproar.
The tweet was interpreted as a severe threat that jeopardized their territorial integrity because the third-ranking commander of the Ugandan army at the time.
One of the tweets from Gen. Muhoozi, which some analysts interpreted as a direct criticism of President Ruto, who was just sworn in as president following the August 9 General Election, said that retired Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta should have amended Kenya’s constitution and sought a third term.
Additionally, Gen. Muhoozi asserted that he and his troops could seize Nairobi in less than two weeks.
Following the tweets and the responses from Kenyans and Ugandans, Kampala quickly issued a statement in which it denied responsibility for the tweets, stated that it does not conduct business on social media, and assured Kenya that Kampala is committed to the long-standing good neighborliness that has existed for decades.
A close friend of the general and state minister for health, Mrs. Margaret Muhanga, responded to the tweets by saying Kenyans had misinterpreted Muhoozi’s messages. She claimed Muhoozi is a lighthearted individual who wouldn’t have intended to seriously insult Kenya.
In less than 48 hours, Gen. Muhoozi announced he would soon be leaving his position in the army. He then edited his Twitter account to remove the title of land forces commander. Several hours later, Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, the spokesperson for the Ugandan army, informed us that Muhoozi had been relieved of his duties.
Later, his father, President Yoweri Museveni, apologized to Kenya for his son’s actions. However, Museveni elevated Muhoozi from Lieutenant General to full General in the same speech.
