See How Daring Museveni Son Is For Threatening US Ambassador
In a bold move, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and the country’s chief of defense forces, has issued a startling ultimatum to U.S. Ambassador William Popp. Kainerugaba gave Popp until Monday morning to issue a personal apology to President Museveni or face expulsion from Uganda.
The general’s demand comes just days after the United States sanctioned four Ugandan police officers for gross human rights violations, including torture. However, Kainerugaba did not explicitly link his ultimatum to the sanctions, leaving many speculating on the underlying reasons for his dramatic threats.
Kainerugaba took to the social media platform X, accusing Popp of disrespecting President Museveni and undermining Uganda’s constitution. He warned of a potential diplomatic confrontation if the ambassador failed to comply with his demand by 9 a.m. Monday. The U.S. State Department has yet to respond directly to Kainerugaba’s threats, but continues to work normally with Ugandan authorities.
Human rights advocates, including Sewanyana Livingstone, director of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative Uganda, have been quick to dismiss Kainerugaba’s threats, pointing out that only Uganda’s minister of foreign affairs has the authority to declare an ambassador persona non grata. Livingstone called for calm and urged Kainerugaba to rethink his stance, emphasizing that sanctions are the responsibility of the U.S. government, not the ambassador.
The recent U.S. sanctions were aimed at four Ugandan police officers implicated in the torture of a legislator during a COVID-19 lockdown enforcement operation. The incident, along with the growing number of documented torture cases in Uganda, has drawn increased international scrutiny.
The U.S. Embassy, through State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, reiterated its commitment to supporting justice for human rights victims globally and upholding accountability for abuses. As diplomatic tensions rise, all eyes are on Monday’s deadline, with Uganda’s diplomatic relations with the U.S. hanging in the balance.
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See How Daring Museveni Son Is For Threatening US Ambassador