Uganda’s top military commander, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has once again stirred debate across East Africa with remarks that appear to signal open support for Kenyan President William Ruto even suggesting military backing if needed.
In a late-night social media post on Wednesday, Muhoozi, who is also the son of Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, publicly declared his allegiance to Ruto, stating, “The only Kenyan I support at this point is Afande Ruto. If he needs any support from UPDF, we shall provide it!”
The statement, posted on X (formerly Twitter), has since gone viral, triggering widespread reactions from both Kenyans and Ugandans. Critics slammed the comments as irresponsible and provocative, accusing the General of overstepping boundaries and fanning political flames in a neighboring state. Others dismissed the remarks with humor, citing the odd hour of posting and Muhoozi’s history of erratic online behavior.
This isn’t the first time General Muhoozi has made bold declarations involving Kenya. Just days earlier, he took aim at Kenya’s leadership in the Haiti peacekeeping mission, claiming that Ugandan forces could swiftly outperform their Kenyan counterparts in restoring order in Port-au-Prince. “It would take us one month to capture Port-au-Prince,” he wrote, while also insinuating that Uganda’s army was prepared to “rescue” Kenya from a mission he described as struggling.
Muhoozi’s comments have raised eyebrows in diplomatic circles and sparked concerns about Uganda’s positioning in Kenya’s ongoing internal tensions. While Uganda’s government has not officially endorsed the remarks, the statements hint at possible shifts or at the very least, individual ambitions within East Africa’s regional politics.
Analysts caution that while Muhoozi’s words may not reflect Uganda’s official foreign policy, his influential role as military chief and potential presidential successor makes his messaging difficult to ignore.
As Kenya continues to navigate rising political pressure and calls for reform, the last thing many observers expected was open military rhetoric from its neighbor especially from someone so close to the heart of power in Kampala.
