Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has issued an apology to Kenyans following controversial remarks by his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Museveni also indicated that he contacted President William Ruto and privately apologized for his son’s actions by suggesting that former President Uhuru Kenyatta should have run for a third term. Museveni claimed that it was improper for his son to make comments about the politics in Kenya.
“It is not correct for Public officers, be they civilian or military, to comment or interfere in any way, in the internal affairs of brother countries,” Museveni said.
The recent events follow his son’s promotion to the rank of full General, hours after a Twitter rant where he insinuated that he can take over Nairobi in just two weeks.
Read: Museveni Promotes Son Muhoozi Kainerugamba After Social Media Rant
Muhoozi, who was the Uganda Army Commander, will be replaced by Kayanja Muhanga, a former Major-General, who was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General.
This comes hours after the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Of the Republic Of Uganda issued a statement, disassociating itself with Gen Muhoozi’s social media rant.
Below is the full apology
“Dear Ugandans, the brotherly People of Kenya and all East Africans. I greet all of you. Again, I hail the peaceful elections that took place in Kenya recently where H.E. William Ruto emerged as the winner. I, again, congratulate him on that victory. I ask our Kenyan brothers and sisters to forgive us for tweets sent by General Muhoozi, former Commander of Land Forces here, regarding the election matters in that great country. It is not correct for Public officers, be they civilian or military, to comment or interfere in any way, in the internal affairs of brother countries.
The only available legitimate forum is the Peer Review Mechanism of the African Union or confidential interactions among us or EAC and AU fora –not public comments. Why, then, promote him to full General after these comments? This is because this mistake is one aspect where he has acted negatively as a Public officer. There are, however, many other positive contributions the General has made and can still make. This is a time-tested formula –discourage the negative and encourage the positive. Very sorry, ndugu zetu Wakenya. Also sorry to the Ugandans who could have been annoyed by one of their officials meddling in the affairs of brother Kenya. I know for a fact that General Muhoozi is a passionate Pan-Africanist. However, the correct method for Pan-Africanists is confidential interactions or using the available fora (EAC and AU), especially if you are a Public officer. I have conveyed all those views confidentially to H.E. Ruto, the President of Kenya.”
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