UGANDA’S outspoken army general Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni, has deactivated his X (formerly Twitter) account, marking yet another social media exit following a string of controversial posts. His announcement comes just days after sparking national outrage with a post in which he threatened to behead opposition leader Bobi Wine.
In his final message on Friday, Kainerugaba stated that it was time to leave social media and refocus on his military duties, but assured his one million followers that he would ‘re-converge’ with them in the future. This is not the first time he has left X—back in 2022, he quit the platform only to return within days.
Kainerugaba, 50, has been at the centre of political speculation, with many believing he is being groomed to succeed his father, who has ruled Uganda since 1986. His frequent social media outbursts, often touching on politically sensitive issues, have drawn sharp criticism. In 2022, he caused a diplomatic crisis by tweeting about invading Kenya, forcing President Museveni to step in and apologise. He has also ruffled feathers internationally by expressing support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and siding with Tigrayan rebels in Ethiopia’s civil war.
Despite the backlash over his latest threats against Bobi Wine—whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi—the Ugandan government has downplayed the incident, with a spokesperson describing the general’s remarks as ‘casual.’ Kainerugaba later apologised, calling his post a joke, but Bobi Wine dismissed the apology, saying he could not ignore death threats from a serving general.
In his farewell post, Kainerugaba attributed his decision to quit X to his Christian faith and a renewed commitment to his military role, stating that he was leaving ‘on the instructions and blessings of my Lord Jesus Christ.’ He also urged his supporters to continue backing his father, referring to Museveni as ‘the greatest general of the resistance.’
Kainerugaba’s political ambitions remain an open secret. Despite Museveni publicly denying any succession plan, the general has been holding nationwide rallies and mobilising supporters, fuelling speculation about a power transition. His rapid rise through the military ranks since joining in 1999 has been dubbed the ‘Muhoozi Project’ by Ugandan media.
As he bids farewell to social media, many are left wondering whether this is truly his final exit—or just another strategic retreat before making a comeback.
