Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Uganda president's son cause embarrassing diplomatic tiff between Kenya and Uganda

KAMPALA, Uganda

Lieutenant General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, has hinted on being demoted in the Ugandan army following his controversial tweets about Kenya.

Muhoozi on Tuesday morning said he had a discussion with his father and that new changes will be made public soon.

“Had a good discussion with my great father this morning. Apparently, my tweets scared Kenyans too much? He will announce the changes. There is a special prayer I shall make for our army.”

This comes hours after a Twitter account associated with him posted chilling tweets that turned into an embarrassing diplomatic tiff between Kenya and Uganda. In the tweet, which has since been deleted, he warned that he would only need two weeks with his army to capture Nairobi (the capital city of Kenya).

He started off by blaming former President Uhuru Kenyatta for not contesting for a third term in the August 2022 polls adding that the retired President could have easily won the election.

My only problem with my beloved big brother is that he didn't stand for a third term. We would have won easily! pic.twitter.com/6fmsJSXkii

With Mr Kenyatta being barred by the Kenyan Constitution from contesting for a third term, Muhoozi suggested that he should have followed his father’s footsteps by changing the Constitution to remain in power.

Haha! I love my Kenyan relatives. Constitution? Rule of law? You must be joking! For us there is only the Revolution and you will soon learn about it!

— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) October 3, 2022

President Museveni, 78, has twice benefitted from a change of the Constitution to rule Uganda for close to four decades having moved to remove the term and age limits from the Constitution.

Muhoozi, who is a commander in the Ugandan military, went on to brag that his tweet on toppling President William Ruto’s government had gained the much needed traction saying, “I’m happy that members of our district in Kenya, have responded enthusiastically to my tweet. It’s still 2 weeks to Nairobi! After our army captures Nairobi, where should I live? Westlands? Riverside?”

After our army captures Nairobi, where should I live? Westlands? Riverside?

— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) October 3, 2022

The tweets had since attracted varying opinions from Ugandan and Kenyan leaders with Muhoozi eating a humble pie saying it was all a joke.

“I'm glad that I have scared you Kenyans a bit! Two weeks is long. Nairobi in one week for sure! Aided by my brothers from Carnival!”

I'm glad that I have scared you Kenyans a bit! Two weeks is long. Nairobi in one week for sure! Aided by my brothers from Carnival!

— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) October 3, 2022

He then went on to assure Kenyans that he would never wedge a war on the Kenyan army.

I would never beat up the Kenyan army because my father told me never to attempt it! So our people in Kenya should relax!

— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) October 3, 2022

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda has distanced itself from comments made by Uganda's commander of the Uganda People's Defence Force Muhoozi Kainerugaba which have since sparked a heated debate on social media.

in a statement on Tuesday, clarified that they do not subscribe to Muhoozi's statement, emphasizing that they treasure the relationship between Uganda and Kenya.

"The Ministry wishes to emphasize that the Government and the people of the Republic of Uganda treasure the existing strong bilateral relations between the people and the Government of the Republic of Kenya based on our shared history, common values, mutual respect, trust and the desire to build a unified East African Community," read part of the statement.

Courtesy

"To this end, the Government of the Republic of Uganda wishes to reiterate its commitment to good neighbourliness, peaceful co-existence and cooperation."

The ministry further noted that it does not run its foreign policy affairs or official business through social media platforms affirming that they hold dear the ties between the two nations.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to clarify that the Government of the Republic of Uganda does not conduct its Foreign Policy and other official business through social media nor does it depend on social media sources in dealing with other sovereign Governments," read the statement. 

"The Government of the Republic of Uganda, therefore, wishes to reiterate its cordial relationship with the Republic of Kenya and assure the people and the Government of the Republic of Kenya of our harmonious relationship that we value." - Africa

No comments:

Post a Comment