Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), has issued an apology to the United States following a series of controversial social media posts. In these posts, Gen Muhoozi had accused the US Embassy in Kampala of actively undermining military cooperation between the two nations and of allegedly providing assistance to opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine. The apology came after Gen Muhoozi deleted the contentious posts from his social media accounts, particularly X (formerly Twitter), acknowledging that his initial remarks were based on erroneous information.

The diplomatic storm was ignited by Gen Muhoozi's earlier claims that officials at the US Embassy were responsible for weakening security cooperation with the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) for more than a decade. Specifically, he asserted that this cooperation had been compromised "since 2015" by what he critically labeled as "unimaginative bureaucrats" within the embassy, despite what he described as robust political relations between Kampala and Washington. Furthermore, Gen Muhoozi made unsubstantiated allegations that Kyagulanyi had "kidnapped himself" and sought refuge, with coordination from the US Embassy. In a dramatic escalation, he also announced what he termed a "suspension of all cooperation" between the UPDF and the US Embassy in Kampala, explicitly including operations crucial to security efforts in Somalia.

Uganda's role in Somalia is significant, having been one of the largest troop contributors to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for nearly two decades. This commitment involves close collaboration with the United States through various channels, including extensive training programs, critical intelligence sharing, essential logistics support, and joint counter-terrorism operations specifically targeting the al-Shabaab militant group. The United States remains a pivotal security partner not only for Uganda but also for the broader stability of the Horn of Africa region, and any disruption to this partnership would have substantial ramifications for regional counter-terrorism endeavors.

Following the significant diplomatic fallout, Gen Muhoozi moved to stabilize the situation. In his statement confirming the apology, he explained that his previous remarks were a result of being "fed with wrong information." This retraction and apology came after direct consultations with the US Ambassador to Uganda. Gen Muhoozi affirmed that these discussions had successfully resolved the matter, ensuring that bilateral relations had been stabilized and that the ongoing military cooperation between Uganda and the United States would proceed as usual. He explicitly stated, "I have spoken with the US Ambassador to our country and everything is okay. We are going to continue our military cooperation as usual."

In facilitating the de-escalation of tensions, Gen Muhoozi also publicly credited Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, Uganda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He praised Ambassador Ayebare's diplomatic engagement and expressed a hopeful sentiment that President Museveni might one day appoint him as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, recognizing his effective intervention in calming the situation.

The incident highlighted broader implications for regional security. Security analysts noted that any abrupt suspension of military cooperation, particularly in areas like counter-terrorism, would carry significant consequences for ongoing efforts in the region. It remained ambiguous whether Gen Muhoozi's public pronouncements reflected an official government policy or merely his personal stance. This event is not an isolated one, as Gen Muhoozi has a documented history of tense public exchanges with the US Embassy, including past demands for apologies from former US Ambassador William Popp, and previous threats to withdraw Ugandan troops from Somalia.

Opposition figures in Uganda have frequently dismissed similar claims against foreign missions as politically motivated maneuvers. Concurrently, human rights organizations have viewed this episode as indicative of a wider diplomatic strain, occurring amidst increased international scrutiny over Uganda's governance practices and its human rights record. The incident thus underscores the complex interplay of domestic politics, international relations, and regional security dynamics.