General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, chief of Uganda’s defense forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni, has issued an ultimatum to U.S. Ambassador William Popp to apologize or leave the country by Monday morning, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
The threat comes days after the United States sanctioned four Ugandan police officers for human rights violations. Kainerugaba, in a series of posts on social media platform X, accused Popp of “disrespecting our beloved and celebrated president and for undermining the constitution of Uganda.”
Sewanyana Livingstone, director of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative Uganda, told VOA that Kainerugaba lacks the authority to declare Popp persona non grata. “He needs to calm down. He needs to understand that Uganda is not him, neither is he Uganda,” Livingstone said.
The U.S. State Department recently sanctioned four Ugandan police officers for gross human rights violations, including torture and cruel treatment. The officers were identified as Bob Kagarura, Alex Mwine, Elly Womanya, and Hamdani Twesigye.
Herbert Sam Nsubuga, executive director of the African Center for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims, expressed concern over rising torture cases in Uganda. “Just halfway this year, we have made 903 cases. So, it’s still really an issue,” Nsubuga stated.
In response to Kainerugaba’s threats, the U.S. Embassy in Uganda quoted State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, saying the embassy, ambassador, and U.S. government continue to work normally with Ugandan authorities on various issues.
Miller emphasized the U.S. commitment to supporting justice for victims and accountability for human rights violations worldwide, including restricting U.S. travel visas for individuals with demonstrated evidence of abuses.
