Tension between Uganda and the United States has sharply increased after a senior U.S. senator proposed sanctions against Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
U.S. Senator Jim Risch, who chairs the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, raised the issue following public outrage over remarks allegedly made by Muhoozi in which he threatened opposition leader Bobi Wine after Uganda’s recent elections.
In a statement released on Monday, Senator Risch strongly condemned what he described as dangerous threats against democratic leaders. He warned that such statements put Uganda’s stability at risk and could damage its long-standing relationship with the United States.
Risch also called for a review of U.S.–Uganda security cooperation. For many years, the two countries have worked closely through military training, intelligence sharing, and counterterrorism operations in the Horn of Africa.
The development comes at a difficult time for Uganda, as the country faces growing international pressure over human rights concerns, election-related violence, and the treatment of opposition figures.
Bobi Wine, Uganda’s leading opposition politician, has repeatedly accused security forces of harassment, illegal arrests, and violence against his supporters before and after the elections.
Several international observers and human rights groups have backed some of these claims.
Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also President Yoweri Museveni’s son, has previously caused diplomatic tension through controversial social media posts.
While Ugandan officials often dismiss his remarks as personal opinions, U.S. lawmakers now appear less willing to separate his actions from the state.
Uganda’s government has not yet officially responded to the proposed sanctions. However, political analysts warn that targeting the country’s top military officer would be a major turning point and could affect military aid, diplomatic relations, and Uganda’s role as a regional security partner.
As Washington considers its next move, the message is clear: patience is wearing thin over what critics describe as a shrinking democratic space in Uganda — a signal likely to be felt well beyond the country’s borders.
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