Uganda’s first son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has once again ignited debates with a series of bold and controversial tweets over the weekend. His posts touched on a wide range of topics, from a surprising desire to buy Manchester United to threats against Uganda’s opposition and warnings of military action in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Muhoozi, who serves as Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, surprised many football fans by announcing his interest in purchasing English football club Manchester United.
“Uganda now has enough money to buy one of these football teams in England! Which one should we buy?” he asked his followers on X (formerly Twitter).
He later followed up with a direct query about the club’s valuation, asking, “How much does Manchester United cost?” He also suggested that any club he acquires would promote Ugandan tourism, with jerseys branded with “Visit Uganda.”
While his comments were met with amusement, many questioned the feasibility of such a purchase, given Uganda’s economic struggles. Manchester United is currently majority-owned by the Glazer family, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe holding a 25% stake, and any sale would require a complex financial and regulatory process.
Muhoozi stirred political outrage by posting a now-deleted tweet that directly threatened supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda’s main opposition party.
“From now on, if we find anyone wearing NUP outfits, we will kill them! No questions asked!” he wrote.
The remarks triggered widespread condemnation, with NUP leader Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi) warning that these were not mere words but real threats from Uganda’s military leadership.
“Some people tell us to ignore Muhoozi’s words as the ramblings of a drunk man, but the reality is that he is the head of our army and can act on these threats,” Bobi Wine said.
His comments come amid increasing reports of security crackdowns on opposition figures, with arrests and disappearances of NUP members.
Muhoozi’s tweets also extended beyond Uganda’s borders, warning of possible military action in the DRC.
“If these killings don’t stop immediately, we want proof that the killers have been punished. Otherwise, we shall seize the town of Mahagi soon,” he wrote, referencing attacks on Bahima and Batutsi communities.
His remarks have raised concerns of escalating regional tensions, given past accusations of Uganda’s involvement in DRC conflicts.
