Ugandan general returns to X to ‘shake up the world’

General Muhuzi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, has reinstated his X account just a week after he left the social media platform, citing that he was refocusing on his military duties.

– I’m back! General Kainerugaba posted on his verified account @mkainerugaba which quickly amassed hundreds of followers.

He returned in his signature style with a series of controversial posts, threatening to “rock this world!”.

The 50-year-old army general has become increasingly involved in the political arena, breaking with military protocol and reviving debate about his ambitions to succeed his father, who has been in power since 1986.

Critics lashed out at the general for his social media posts that touched on topics considered taboo for a serving soldier.

He recently sparked outrage with a tweet in which he threatened to behead the country’s leading opposition figure, Bobby Wine.

Announcing his return on the microblogging platform on Thursday, General Kainerugaba ordered Ugandan security forces to arrest on the spot any opposition figure wearing anything resembling the country’s military uniform.

“And those who do not respect this order … have their own problems,” added the general who heads Uganda’s ground forces.

He also threatened to deport an unnamed US diplomat after he reportedly failed to salute the general.

“My only problem is the US Defense Attaché. If I find him anywhere…and he doesn’t stand up and salute me…I will arrest him on the spot!!

The general also wondered what the BBC “said about me”, referring to the corporation reports his announcement to leave X last week.

This is the second time General Kainerugaba has left and then returned to the social media platform in three years.

He first left in 2022, but returned days later and continued the social media outburst that had previously caused diplomatic tensions.

In October of that year, he made headlines after posting a series of tweets threatening to invade neighboring Kenya, a comment that prompted his father to step in and apologize.

General Kainerugaba’s recent post threatening to “cut off” the head of Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulani, has drawn widespread condemnation in the country.

Although the general apologized for the message, which he called a joke, Bobby Wine said he cannot take such threats lightly.

The Ugandan government downplayed the post, with a spokesperson calling General Kainerugaba’s social media comments “casual” remarks that should not be interpreted as reflecting official policy.

General Kainerugaba is widely believed to be the heir apparent to his father, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, although Museveni has denied he is grooming him for the presidency.

His X account now has over 1,000 followers. The old account has more than a million subscribers.

In his return message, he urged his fans to follow him.

“I want all my people back. Bring them all back!’