General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni, has given U.S. Ambassador William Popp until Monday morning to either apologize or leave the country. It remains unclear why Kainerugaba issued this ultimatum, though it follows U.S. sanctions against four Ugandan police officers this week for human rights abuses.
On Friday, Kainerugaba posted three times on X, accusing Popp of “disrespecting our beloved and celebrated president and undermining the constitution of Uganda.” Five hours later, he tweeted again, warning that if Popp did not personally apologize to the president by 9 a.m. on Monday for what he termed “undiplomatic behavior,” the Ugandan government would demand the ambassador’s departure.
Sewanyana Livingstone, Director of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative Uganda, told VOA that Kainerugaba has no authority to declare Popp persona non grata unless he holds the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs. Livingstone suggested Kainerugaba’s comments should be disregarded.
“He needs to calm down and realize Uganda is not him, and he is not Uganda,” Livingstone remarked. “Uganda will remain, and sanctions are not determined by an ambassador but by the U.S. State Department. I think he is directing his anger at the wrong individual. Ugandans need to call him to order. It’s high time.”
Earlier, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller announced sanctions against four Ugandan police officers—Bob Kagarura, Alex Mwine, Elly Womanya, and Hamdani Twesigye—for gross human rights violations, including torture and inhumane treatment. Miller said these violations were documented by Ugandan civil courts, civil society organizations, and independent journalists, describing the reports as serious and credible.
Ugandan authorities have not responded to requests for comment. Meanwhile, a report from the African Center for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV) last month highlighted a rise in torture cases in Uganda, despite laws prohibiting the practice.
