President Yoweri Museveni’s son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has caused yet another Twitter storm after demanding the army from his father.
Gen Muhoozi, in the latest Twitter outburst against his father, said the Ugandan army belongs to him and should be handed to him.
While quoting Col Jet Mwebaze's sentiments to the effect that "Only the dead have seen the end of war" Muhoozi said since fortune favours the sons of God, he will thus be favoured to become the president of Uganda someday.“UPDF is still 'My' Army. Afande Mzee, I want my army back!!. Fortune favours the sons of God! I will be President of Uganda one day!,” Muhoozi wrote on his Twitter account.new district.
“It wouldn’t take us, my army and me, two weeks to capture Nairobi,” General Muhoozi tweeted. “After our army captures Nairobi, where should I live? Westlands? Riverside?”
“To all compatriots, fellow countrymen and women, Uganda and Kenya: I say we must all conquer our fears. These colonial borders must fall!” he wrote.
“I would never beat up the Kenyan army because my father told me never to attempt it! So our people in Kenya should relax!”
His sentiments were, however, dismissed by the government of Uganda which issued a formal statement on the matter, saying the country does not conduct matters touching on foreign policy on social media platforms.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda has noted the debate on social media in respect to the relationship between Uganda and our brotherly neighbour, the Republic of Kenya,” the Ministry said.
In a surprise turn of events, President Museveni promoted Muhoozi to a full general but without defined responsibilities.
The Daily Monitor reported that Muhoozi, then a Lieutenant-General Army Commander was replaced by Kayanja Muhanga who was promoted to Lieutenant-General.
In a previous interview with KTN's Sophia Wanuna, Museveni remained cagey about the politics of succession and whether he was backing his son’s ambition to succeed him.
He, however, defended the son's promotion despite his Twitter faux pas f saying he had done commendable work in the army and that he deserved the promotion.
Security experts have maintained that although Muhoozi’s outbursts have little military threat, he is using social media to pass a political message.
Many say whereas, in the disciplined forces, such communication would be unexpected, generally, Gen. Kainerugaba is more of a politician than a general.