East African leaders work for peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, but their efforts face obstacles from General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who leads the Uganda army. In recent days, President Museveni's son has acted like an angry animal, threatening to attack the Bunia region of Congo. He claims people from his ethnic group, the Bahima-Tutsi clan, suffer persecution there. Last Sunday morning, Kainerugaba posted shocking messages against reporters on social media, warning media companies about upcoming inspections and military training for editors.
Despite holding extreme views on the Congo conflict, he attended the East African Community military leaders meeting in Nairobi. The group discussed how to restore security in eastern Congo. This gathering resulted from decisions made at a summit in Tanzania two weeks earlier, where regional military chiefs received instructions to address fighting in Goma city and surrounding areas. The military heads signed a report with key recommendations for government ministers to implement. They called for an immediate end to fighting, delivery of humanitarian aid, and security improvements around Goma airport.
After the meeting ended, Kainerugaba, who openly backed the M23 rebel group controlling Goma, posted another warning on social media. He demanded people stop killing members of the Bahima and Batutsi communities. He wrote that all Congolese respected him and begged them as brothers to protect his people. He asked Congo leaders to arrest extremists. He threatened that Uganda would seize the town of Mahagi unless killings stopped and perpetrators faced punishment.
Reuters news agency reported Kainerugaba referring to M23 fighters as brothers fighting for Tutsi rights in Congo, a position he maintains today. The general comes from the Banyankole tribe, also known as Bahima, who share ancestry with the Tutsi and Banyamulenge groups. These Bantu-speaking peoples live across Western Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern Congo, and Northwestern Tanzania. He posted about public executions in North Kivu province before deleting the message. He had declared that the governor had permission to carry out his order.
The controversial general recently threatened attacks on Bunia after ordering militia groups to surrender weapons within 24 hours. Later, Uganda sent additional soldiers to that area. In October 2022, he created headlines by threatening to invade Kenya and capture Nairobi within two weeks. His father stepped in to manage the situation. President Museveni asked Kenyans for forgiveness regarding the messages his son sent. Museveni said public officials should not interfere with other countries. Kainerugaba apologized to President William Ruto after causing diplomatic problems.
Museveni promoted his son to four-star general shortly afterward, saying it would encourage his positive contributions. The general has also upset Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt with provocative comments. Each time, Uganda's Information Ministry distanced the government from these statements, calling them personal views made as jokes. Sudan reacted angrily and demanded an official apology for what they considered irresponsible and disparaging remarks from a senior military officer. Kainerugaba had posted a warning about seizing the Sudanese capital upon Donald Trump's inauguration.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry described his comments as reckless and irresponsible. They viewed them as violations of international law and diplomatic norms, showing disregard for proper behavior expected from military officials. Uganda's Minister for Information apologized again for these posts. He emphasized they represented casual private comments, not official government positions. Last December, Kainerugaba angered Congo officials when he threatened to invade their country to remove white mercenaries. He warned all white mercenaries in eastern Congo that attacks against them would begin on January 2, 2025.
Congo President Felix Chisekedi's government summoned the Ugandan ambassador, demanding explanations about these statements. Recently, Uganda lawmakers called a minister to parliament after Kainerugaba threatened to behead opposition politician Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi. Kainerugaba holds unusual influence for a military officer. Reports indicate he helped improve relations between President Museveni and Rwanda's Paul Kagame in 2019 after years of tension. He speaks openly about plans to succeed his father as president, creating strong reactions from Ugandans and neighboring countries.
Kainerugaba announced plans to establish television and radio channels supporting his political movement. He once criticized his father's National Resistance Movement party as possibly the most reactionary organization in Uganda that does not represent its people. Early last month, he announced leaving social media to focus on military duties following criticism over his threats against Bobi Wine. Just a week later, he reactivated his account with the message that he had returned. Many Ugandans and Kenyans follow his social media posts closely, finding him controversial but interesting.
Despite holding extreme views on the Congo conflict, he attended the East African Community military leaders meeting in Nairobi. The group discussed how to restore security in eastern Congo. This gathering resulted from decisions made at a summit in Tanzania two weeks earlier, where regional military chiefs received instructions to address fighting in Goma city and surrounding areas. The military heads signed a report with key recommendations for government ministers to implement. They called for an immediate end to fighting, delivery of humanitarian aid, and security improvements around Goma airport.
After the meeting ended, Kainerugaba, who openly backed the M23 rebel group controlling Goma, posted another warning on social media. He demanded people stop killing members of the Bahima and Batutsi communities. He wrote that all Congolese respected him and begged them as brothers to protect his people. He asked Congo leaders to arrest extremists. He threatened that Uganda would seize the town of Mahagi unless killings stopped and perpetrators faced punishment.
Reuters news agency reported Kainerugaba referring to M23 fighters as brothers fighting for Tutsi rights in Congo, a position he maintains today. The general comes from the Banyankole tribe, also known as Bahima, who share ancestry with the Tutsi and Banyamulenge groups. These Bantu-speaking peoples live across Western Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern Congo, and Northwestern Tanzania. He posted about public executions in North Kivu province before deleting the message. He had declared that the governor had permission to carry out his order.
The controversial general recently threatened attacks on Bunia after ordering militia groups to surrender weapons within 24 hours. Later, Uganda sent additional soldiers to that area. In October 2022, he created headlines by threatening to invade Kenya and capture Nairobi within two weeks. His father stepped in to manage the situation. President Museveni asked Kenyans for forgiveness regarding the messages his son sent. Museveni said public officials should not interfere with other countries. Kainerugaba apologized to President William Ruto after causing diplomatic problems.
Museveni promoted his son to four-star general shortly afterward, saying it would encourage his positive contributions. The general has also upset Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt with provocative comments. Each time, Uganda's Information Ministry distanced the government from these statements, calling them personal views made as jokes. Sudan reacted angrily and demanded an official apology for what they considered irresponsible and disparaging remarks from a senior military officer. Kainerugaba had posted a warning about seizing the Sudanese capital upon Donald Trump's inauguration.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry described his comments as reckless and irresponsible. They viewed them as violations of international law and diplomatic norms, showing disregard for proper behavior expected from military officials. Uganda's Minister for Information apologized again for these posts. He emphasized they represented casual private comments, not official government positions. Last December, Kainerugaba angered Congo officials when he threatened to invade their country to remove white mercenaries. He warned all white mercenaries in eastern Congo that attacks against them would begin on January 2, 2025.
Congo President Felix Chisekedi's government summoned the Ugandan ambassador, demanding explanations about these statements. Recently, Uganda lawmakers called a minister to parliament after Kainerugaba threatened to behead opposition politician Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi. Kainerugaba holds unusual influence for a military officer. Reports indicate he helped improve relations between President Museveni and Rwanda's Paul Kagame in 2019 after years of tension. He speaks openly about plans to succeed his father as president, creating strong reactions from Ugandans and neighboring countries.
Kainerugaba announced plans to establish television and radio channels supporting his political movement. He once criticized his father's National Resistance Movement party as possibly the most reactionary organization in Uganda that does not represent its people. Early last month, he announced leaving social media to focus on military duties following criticism over his threats against Bobi Wine. Just a week later, he reactivated his account with the message that he had returned. Many Ugandans and Kenyans follow his social media posts closely, finding him controversial but interesting.
