US Signals Possible Review of Uganda Ties After Muhoozi’s Claims, Army Chief Scales Back X Activity
Politics Updated: 31 January 2026 11:45 EAT
The chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has called for a review of security cooperation with Uganda following remarks by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The United States has hinted at a possible re-evaluation of its relationship with Uganda following controversial accusations made by Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, against the U.S. Embassy in Kampala. The remarks, made on social media platform X, briefly triggered diplomatic tension between the two long-time security partners.
In a series of posts, Muhoozi alleged that officials from the U.S. Embassy were involved in supporting opposition figure Bobi Wine, who had reportedly gone into hiding after Uganda’s disputed presidential election. The army chief further claimed that the alleged actions undermined Uganda’s sovereignty and security cooperation.
The posts escalated the situation when Muhoozi announced that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) would suspend cooperation with the U.S. Embassy, including military engagements. The statements quickly drew attention in Washington and across the region due to Uganda’s strategic role in regional security, particularly in Somalia.
Within hours, Muhoozi deleted the posts and issued an apology, saying he had relied on false information. He stated that he had spoken directly with the U.S. Ambassador and confirmed that military cooperation between Uganda and the United States would continue uninterrupted.
A day later, the army chief said he would scale back his activity on X, acknowledging that his social-media posts had caused unnecessary diplomatic strain. He added that future communication on sensitive matters would be handled through official channels.
Despite the apology, senior voices in the United States reacted sharply. U.S. Senator Jim Risch, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Muhoozi’s remarks had crossed a “red line” and called for Washington to review its security and diplomatic ties with Uganda.
Risch described the allegations as reckless and warned that continued behavior of that nature could have consequences, including a reassessment of military cooperation and assistance. He said apologies alone were insufficient without accountability and assurances against future incidents.
The episode unfolded amid heightened political tension in Uganda following elections that President Yoweri Museveni won, results that were rejected by the opposition amid claims of irregularities. Western governments, including the U.S., have previously expressed concern over human rights and democratic space in the country.
Uganda has long been a key U.S. ally in East Africa, particularly through its contribution of troops to the African Union mission in Somalia. Analysts warn that any cooling of relations could have wider implications for regional security cooperation.
For now, the U.S. government has not announced any formal policy shift toward Uganda. However, the incident has underscored growing unease in Washington over the conduct of Uganda’s security leadership and the potential diplomatic costs of inflammatory public statements.
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FELIX MAKONA
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