The Ugandan military dismissed sanction threats from U.S. Senator Jim Risch following a volatile social media dispute involving leadership.
Army spokesperson Col. Chris Magezi characterized the Senator’s warnings as outdated colonial tactics that the nation would vigorously resist.
Magezi asserted that the strategic partnership regarding defense and health remains stable despite the comments of one “loose cannon.”
The friction ignited when General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the President’s son, accused the U.S. Embassy of undermining national security cooperation.
Muhoozi initially claimed U.S. officials were linked to the disappearance of opposition leader Bobi Wine before abruptly deleting his posts.
The General later issued an apology, citing misinformation and confirming that military cooperation with Washington would continue as usual.
Senator Risch, chairing the Foreign Relations Committee, argued that the General crossed a red line that hollow apologies cannot fix.
Risch emphasized that the United States will not tolerate recklessness when American personnel and regional interests are at high risk.
The Senator urged a formal review of relations, suggesting targeted sanctions against Muhoozi for his recent destabilizing diplomatic conduct.
President Yoweri Museveni has long aligned his four-decade rule with U.S. counterterrorism efforts to maintain strong regional security ties.
Despite the current verbal firestorm, Uganda remains a pivotal partner for Washington’s strategic operations across the volatile African Great Lakes.
