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

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, has reactivated his X account barely a week after leaving the social media platform, citing a renewed focus on his military duties.

“I’m back!” Gen Kainerugaba has posted on his verified account @mkainerugaba which has quickly amassed hundreds of followers.

He returned in his signature style with some controversial posts, “rocking this world!” threatening

The 50-year-old army general has increasingly entered the political arena, flouting military protocol and fueling debate over his ambitions to succeed his father, who has been in power since 1986.

Critics have slammed the general for his comments on social media, which 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, Bobi Wine.

Announcing his return on the microblogging platform on Thursday, General Kainerugaba ordered Ugandan security agencies 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 expel an unnamed US diplomat who he accused of failing 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 asked what the BBC “said about me”, referring to the corporation announced last week that he was leaving X.

This is the second time in three years that Gen Kainerugaba has returned to the social media platform after leaving.

He first left in 2022, but returned days later and continued his social media outburst, which had previously fueled diplomatic tensions.

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

Gen Kainerugaba Robert Kyagulanyi’s recent post threatening to “chop off” Bobi Wine’s head sparked widespread condemnation in the country.

Although the general apologized for the message, which he described as a joke, Bobi Wine said he could not take such threats lightly.

The Ugandan government downplayed the publication, with a spokesperson describing Gen Kainerugaba’s social media statements as “casual” remarks that should not reflect official policy.

Jen Kainerugaba, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, is widely believed to be his father’s successor, although Museveni has denied that he is preparing for the presidency.

His X account currently has over 1,000 followers. The old account amassed over a million followers.

In his return message, he asked his followers to follow him.

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