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

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

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

He returned to his signature style with a series of controversial posts threatening to “rock this world!”.

The 50-year-old army general has become increasingly involved in the political scene in a breach of military protocol, reigniting debate about his ambitions to succeed his father, who has been in power since 1986.

Critics attacked the general for statements he made on social media that touched on topics considered taboo for an active-duty soldier.

He recently sparked outrage with a tweet in which he threatened to behead the country’s leading opposition figure, Bobby 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 follow this order … have their own problems,” added the general, who heads Uganda’s ground forces.

He also threatened to deport an unnamed US diplomat, citing his failure to “congratulate” the general.

“My only problem is the US defense attaché. If I find him anywhere…and he doesn’t stand up and greet me…I will arrest him on the spot!!

The general also wondered what the BBC “say about me”, referring to those of the corporation reports his announcement to leave X last week.

This is the second time General Kainerugaba has left and then returned to the social media platform in three years.

He left for the first time in 2022, but returned days later and continued his social media outburst that had previously sparked 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.

General Kainerugaba’s recent post threatening to “cut off” the head of Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulani, has sparked widespread condemnation in the country.

Although the general apologized for the post, which he described as a joke, Bobby Wine said he cannot take such threats lightly.

The Ugandan government downplayed the publication, with a spokesman describing General Kainerugaba’s social media statements as “casual” remarks that should not be interpreted as reflecting official policy.

General Kainerugaba is widely believed to be the heir apparent to his father, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, although Museveni has denied grooming him for the presidency.

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

In his reply message, he urged his supporters to follow him back.

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