Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) commander General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has reignited controversy by renewing threats to invade Sudan’s capital, Khartoum. This comes just hours after Sudan acknowledged receiving an official apology from Uganda for his earlier remarks.
The Sudanese government had previously demanded an apology over what it termed “irresponsible and reckless” comments made by Gen. Muhoozi on the X platform (formerly Twitter), where he claimed he could seize Khartoum following the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Sudan’s foreign ministry condemned the remarks, calling them a “complete departure from the expected conduct of high-ranking officials and military personnel.”
In response, Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs distanced itself from the comments, stating they did not reflect the official stance of the Ugandan government, which maintains communication through diplomatic channels. The ministry reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to peaceful relations with Sudan in a formal statement sent to Sudan’s embassy in Kampala.
However, Muhoozi has escalated tensions by demanding an apology from Sudan for a statement by its foreign ministry accusing him of inflammatory rhetoric. “If this letter is true and not a hoax, I want an official apology to me, the UPDF, and the Republic of Uganda,” Muhoozi tweeted in a now-deleted post. He further stated, “If my father [President Yoweri Museveni] ordered us to take control of Khartoum, we would do it tomorrow.”
This incident is the latest in a series of inflammatory statements made by Muhoozi, who is also President Museveni’s son. Last week, authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) summoned Uganda’s Acting Chargé d’Affaires in Kinshasa over comments Muhoozi made regarding President Félix Tshisekedi and the alleged presence of foreign mercenaries in eastern DRC.
Muhoozi has also previously threatened to invade Kenya while serving as the commander of Uganda’s land forces. Despite his controversial remarks, he was later promoted to commander of the UPDF.
The Sudanese government has urged African and global organizations to intervene, emphasizing the need to preserve peace, sovereignty, and mutual respect among nations. While Khartoum has yet to respond to Muhoozi’s latest comments, the ongoing rhetoric continues to strain relations between the two nations.
This escalating diplomatic row raises concerns about regional stability and underscores the challenges posed by high-ranking officials’ unchecked public statements.