“Crossed a Red Line”: US Warns Uganda After Muhoozi’s Social Media Posts Spark Security, Diplomatic Tensions, Threaten Military Cooperation

The United States has signaled a possible rethink of its security partnership with Uganda after General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the country’s Chief of Defence Forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni, posted incendiary messages on social media. His posts, accusing U.S. diplomats of aiding opposition leader Bobi Wine, rattled bilateral ties and alarmed Washington.

U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch said Muhoozi had “crossed a red line.” He warned that America could reconsider military cooperation and even impose sanctions if similar incidents continue. “The president’s son, and likely successor, cannot just delete tweets and issue hollow apologies,” Risch said. He added that the U.S. will not tolerate reckless actions that endanger American personnel, interests, or regional stability.

The controversy followed a January 16 security operation targeting Wine. In his now-deleted posts, Muhoozi claimed the U.S. Embassy in Kampala had supported the opposition, a charge the Embassy has not confirmed. The army chief also announced a temporary suspension of cooperation between the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and the U.S. mission, including joint operations.

Hours later, Muhoozi backtracked, saying he had been misinformed. He added that he had spoken with the U.S. Ambassador and that military cooperation would continue “as usual.” He described the reversal as an effort to preserve relations with what he called “great friends.”

Despite the apology, Risch’s warning highlights broader concerns in Washington. Lawmakers are troubled not just by the tweets themselves, but by Uganda’s political environment. His remarks follow U.S. scrutiny of the January 15 presidential election, which Museveni won by a wide margin. Critics, including some U.S. officials, described the polls as neither free nor fair.

Tensions have been growing amid reports of election-related violence, arrests, and harassment of opposition supporters. Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform says its members were targeted and political freedoms curtailed. Analysts caution that incidents like Muhoozi’s posts could strain Uganda-U.S. relations further and complicate regional security cooperation in the coming months.