In a break from diplomatic convention, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Chief of Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), has made headlines by publicly endorsing U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, August 16, 2024, Kainerugaba expressed his support for Harris, calling her potential presidency the ultimate poetic justice for black individuals in America, who have endured 400 years of slavèry.
Kainerugaba’s endorsement comes at a time when Kamala Harris, born to a Jamaican father and Indian mother, is leading in the polls against former President Donàld Trümp.
In his post, Kainerugaba said, “If this beautiful black womàn becomes the next President of America, I’ll be the first to salute her! It will be the ultimate poetic justice. They enslàved us, colonised us, oppressed us and all it took was one of our women to bring them to their knees.”
This public endorsement is highly unusual, as foreign leaders typically refrain from taking sides in the electoral politics of other nations.
However, Kainerugaba’s comments have added an international dimension to the U.S. presidential race, highlighting Harris’s symbolic significance for many individuals of colour globally.
Opinion polls
Kainerugaba’s remarks were made in the context of recent opinion polls showing Harris with a five-point lead over Trump in key battleground states.
A New York Times/Siena College poll released on August 10, 2024, indicated Harris had 50 per cent support among voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, compared to Trump’s 46 per cent.
Another poll by Emerson College on August 15 showed Harris leading Trump nationally by a similar margin, 50% to 46%.
These polling numbers come on the heels of Harris’s decision to run for president after Joe Biden, the current U.S. President, announced his withdrawal from the race due to concerns about his age.
Harris’s campaign has since gained significant momentum, particularly among young voters, individuals of colour, and key Democratic Party donors and lawmakers.
The recent addition of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as Harris’s vice-presidential running mate has further energized her campaign, creating a wave of enthusiasm among her supporters.
As Harris continues her bid for the White House, Kainerugaba’s unexpected endorsement underscores the world interest and impact of the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
