Ugandan general returns to X to “shake the world”

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, reactivated his X account just a week after leaving 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 amassed hundreds of followers.

He returned in his signature style with a series of controversial posts, threatening to “shake this world.”

The 50-year-old army general has become increasingly involved in the political arena, violating military protocol, reigniting debates about his ambitions to succeed his father, who has been in power since 1986.

Critics have attacked the general for statements he has made on social media, which touch on topics considered taboo for a serving soldier.

He recently sparked anger with a tweet in which he threatened to behead the country’s main 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 found wearing anything resembling the country’s military uniform.

“And those who do not respect this order… have their own problems,” added the general, who leads Uganda’s ground forces.

He also threatened to deport an unnamed American diplomat, citing his alleged failure to “greet” 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 “said about me”, referring to the corporation’s activity. Report his announcement to leave X last week..

This is the second time Gen Kainerugaba has resigned 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, which 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 intervene and apologize.

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

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

The Ugandan government downplayed the post, with a spokesperson describing General Kainerugaba’s statements on social media as “informal” comments 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 that he is grooming him for the presidency.

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

In his response message, he urged his followers to follow him.

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