A circulating video doing rounds online showing Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni publicly praising and thanking his son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for his efforts in combating corruption within the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has raised mixed reactions.
The video was shot a while ago, at a recent passing out of 10,007 army recruits at Basic Millitary Training School in Kaweweta, Uganda.
“I want to thank the CDF and his commanders for bringing a new spirit within the UPDF. The spirit of fighting corruption which was beginning to show up in the army and emphasising professionalism and the lethality of the army. The army must be lethal. The army should be sharp and not blunt,” he said.
Clad in military regalia, Museveni went ahead and gave his speech, but it was his praise of Muhoozi’s leadership as Chief of Defence Forces that generated interest.
Muhoozi, who was also in full military gear, was seen saluting his father after a brief talk.
@m7trending President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, also the Commander-in-Chief of the #UPDF praises the CDF Gen #Muhoozi for fighting corruption and professionalising the army. #uganda #ugandatiktok #military #soldiers #training #kaweweta #Museveni #muhoozikainerugaba #updf #soldiers ♬ original sound – Museveni Clips
Not too long afterwards, Muhoozi would court controversy of his own on X. His recent activity has drawn both national and international attention.
He would later tweet that “It takes three tweets from me for the whole world to start mispronouncing my name.”
This was after he confirmed the detention of Eddie Mutwe, a bodyguard to Bobi Wine.
His posts escalated the situation as he boasted of how his soldiers had captured Mutwe “like a grasshopper” and claimed the detainee was being held in a basement, where he was “learning Runyankore”.
The posts triggered widespread outrage, with the hashtag #FreeEddieMutwe trending as activists and citizens demanded Mutwe’s release and an end to political abductions.
This prompted the Uganda Human Rights Commission to direct the military to release Mutwe.
In a statement, the Commission’s chair, Mariam Wangadya, warned that Mutwe’s continued detention amounts to contempt, as he is being held unlawfully.
“Whereas Edward Mutwe has been in your custody since April 26, and whereas the Commission is satisfied that he is being unlawfully detained or restricted, this is to direct you to cause immediate release of Edward from your custody, failure to which you may be liable for contempt under Article 53(1) of the Constitution,” read the statement.
Muhoozi’s tirade is not new on X, as he earlier claimed he desired to behead Bobi Wine, claiming only his father, President Museveni, was preventing him from doing so.
In 2022, he also made headlines by claiming he could capture Nairobi, Kenya, in two weeks, a statement that prompted his temporary removal from military roles.