Uganda general returns to X to ‘shake up the world’

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni, has re-opened his X account a week after resigning from the media, saying he is reconsidering his military career.

“I’m back!” Gen Kainerugaba posted on his verified account @mkainerugaba which quickly gained hundreds of followers.

He returned in his style with a series of controversial articles, threatening to “shake this world!”.

The 50-year-old army chief has become involved in politics, flouting military regulations and fueling controversy over his bid to succeed his father, who has ruled since 1986.

Critics have focused heavily on his comments on social media, which touch on topics considered offensive to a serving soldier.

He recently sparked outrage with a tweet where he threatened to behead the country’s opposition leader, Bobi Wine.

Announcing his return on Thursday, General Kainerugaba ordered security agencies in Uganda to immediately arrest any dissident found wearing anything resembling the country’s military uniform.

“And those who don’t respect this law… have their own problems,” added the general, who leads the Ugandan army.

He also threatened to fire an unnamed US ambassador, saying he had failed to “salute” the general.

“My only problem is the US Defense Attaché. If I find him anywhere… and he doesn’t stand up and give me a salute… I’ll arrest him on the spot!!

The official also wondered what the BBC “said about me”, referring to the organization report on his announcement to quit X last week.

This is the second time General Kainerugaba has resigned and returned to social media in three years.

He first left in 2022 but returned a few days later and continued to rage on social media, causing controversy.

In October of that year, he made headlines after posting a series of tweets threatening to attack neighboring Kenya, a comment that forced his father to step in and apologize.

Recently, General Kainerugaba’s threat to “behead” Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, drew criticism from many people in the country.

Even though the military commander apologized for the position which he said was a joke, Bobi Wine said that he will not take these threats lightly.

The Ugandan government downplayed the role, with a spokesman describing General Kainerugaba’s televised remarks as “general” statements that should not be interpreted as expressing government policy.

Many people believe that Gen Kainerugaba is the heir to the throne of his father who ruled Uganda since 1986, although Museveni has denied that he is grooming him for the presidency.

His X account currently has over 1,000 followers. The former account gained a million followers.

In his follow-up message, he encouraged his followers to follow him.

“I want all my people to return.