Uganda gives US ultimatum – EADailly, October 5, 2024 – Politics News, Africa News

The Ugandan army chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, presented an ultimatum to US Ambassador William Popp, asking him to apologize to President Yoweri Museveni (Kainerugaba’s father) or leave the country, writes Nile Post.

The general accused the diplomat of behaving “unpopularly” in the country. If Popp does not apologize in person to Museveni by 09:00 Monday, October 7, he will have to leave Uganda, Kainerugaba is in danger. The commander-in-chief did not explain what he meant by “undiplomatic” behaviour.

Kainerugaba noted that Uganda “loves and appreciates” the US, but recently “there is a lot of evidence that they are working against the government of the National Resistance Movement (the ruling party led by Museveni).

Nile Post notes that the general has announced his intention to run for election in 2026. However, in September he announced that he would not participate and instead supported his father 80 years old.

Earlier, the commander-in-chief said that Uganda was “on the verge of a serious conflict” with the ambassador, which is related to his disrespect “to a beloved and respected president and undermining the Ugandan constitution . According to Kainerugaba, this is not about personal grievances, but about interfering with the country’s affairs.

“This is a national issue and you will see that no foreign country will dominate Uganda again!” – he assured.

His statement came after the US State Department imposed sanctions on four Ugandan police officers for their involvement in human rights abuses, including torture.

Popp became an ambassador last September. Since then, a large number of high-ranking officials in the country have defied US sanctions, the publication says.

Museveni appointed his son as army chief in March this year. Kainerugaba previously headed the military but was sacked by his father in 2022 after he threatened to invade neighboring Kenya.

The general also promised “to send troops to defend Moscow if the imperialists are in danger,” and announced support for the Russian President Vladimir PutinRBC clarifying.