General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni and the head of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), has gone offline on X, formerly known as Twitter, following a heated standoff with the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Internal Affairs.
The committee, on Friday, January 17, 2025, suspended its interactions with the Ministry of Defence over the failure to present General Muhoozi before them.
Lawmakers had demanded his presence to address the controversial tweets from his social media account, which they claimed were fueling public unrest and regional tensions.
Parliamentary concerns
Among the tweets that raised alarm was one where Muhoozi announced his intention to execute veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who is currently in military custody.
Earlier, Muhoozi had threatened to chop off the head of the opposition leader Bobi Wine.
The UPDF defended itself, arguing that Muhoozi’s social media posts represented his personal views and not the institution.
Despite this, the committee insisted on his appearance alongside Ministry of Defence officials scheduled for Monday, January 20, 2025.
Muhoozi fires back
In a series of fiery tweets, Muhoozi dismissed the committee’s demands and even vowed to hasten the hanging of Besigye because of the concerns raised by the lawmakers.
“Yesterday, I said we would HANG Besigye on Heroes Day (June 9th). But thanks to some IDIOTS in parliament we have brought the day closer! We will hang him on May 9th!” Muhoozi wrote in a now-deleted tweet.
The UPDF chief also issued a stark warning to the lawmakers, threatening to get them arrested.
“I WILL NEVER appear before parliamentary CLOWNS! Instead I will ARREST them all!” he declared in one post.
His statements only heightened the controversy, prompting calls for accountability from opposition figures and civil society.
Muhoozi shuts down X account
Shortly after his clash with the Defense Committee, Muhoozi abruptly deactivated his X account.
The account remains inactive at the time of publishing this article, marking a surprising turn for the general, who is known for his frequent and provocative online presence.
The move by Muhoozi to disappear from X comes barely a week after he reactivated his account, citing a spiritual awakening as the reason for a brief hiatus.
“I’m back!” Muhoozi tweeted on Thursday, January 16, 2025, just five days after he announced he was leaving the platform under the instructions and blessings of Jesus Christ.
In his brief return, Muhoozi resumed his characteristic style of incendiary remarks, reigniting debates over his controversial public persona.
Fallout and public reaction
The incident has amplified scrutiny of Muhoozi’s influence and actions, both as a military leader and a political figure.
Critics argue that his unchecked behaviour is undermining Uganda’s governance and stability.
The parliamentary committee has reiterated its demand for Muhoozi’s appearance, emphasizing the importance of holding public officials accountable for their statements and actions.
As the drama unfolds, Ugandans and observers across the East African region watch closely, waiting to see how the standoff between the outspoken general and the country’s lawmakers will play out.
