Is Uganda warming up to support President William Ruto? The latest comments by the nation’s military chief suggest so.
Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, caused an uproar on social media on Wednesday after offering to support Ruto using the military.
In a statement shared on his social media platforms, the General indicated that he was ready to back the President amid the unease and simmering political tensions that have gripped Kenya in recent months.
Muhoozi, known for his inflammatory and often unsolicited social media remarks, stated that if given the choice between siding with Kenyans who have voiced concerns against the Kenya Kwanza government or standing with Ruto, he would choose the latter.
"The only Kenyan I support at this point is Afande Ruto. If he needs any support from UPDF, we shall provide it!" Muhoozi shared on his X account.
The statement has since attracted mixed reactions from Kenyans and Ugandans on social media. While some of the users appeared to castigate him for his seemingly 'reckless' sentiments, some jokingly urged him to get some sleep, bearing the timing of his communication, which was in the early hours of the day.
This is not the first time he has offered to intervene in Kenya's internal affairs. Four days ago, Muhoozi called out Kenya's role in the ongoing Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti.
In a series of explosive tweets on his official X page, Muhoozi criticised Kenyan police, alleging that Uganda’s military could succeed in Haiti, where, according to him, Kenya has “struggled.”
“It would take us one month to capture Port-au-Prince (Haiti's capital),” Muhoozi wrote.
The military chief further claimed that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) was prepared to rescue their Kenyan brothers from the mission, which recently marked its first anniversary.
He urged the United Nations to revoke Kenya’s participation in the mission and instead sign a deal with Uganda to take over the anti-gang operations in the Caribbean nation.
“The Kenyans have failed after nearly two years... that’s what we expected. The UN is welcome to offer us favourable terms,” Muhoozi alleged.
