Muhoozi Issues a Warning to United States, Demands Ksh129 Billion

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has issued a strong warning to the United States, saying Uganda could withdraw its troops from Somalia if funding for the mission is not urgently addressed.

Muhoozi, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni, said the continued deployment of Ugandan soldiers fighting Al-Shabaab militants depends on reliable financial support. He warned that Uganda might pull out its forces before the end of the year if negotiations over funding fail.

In a series of social media statements shared on Wednesday, February 4, the outspoken general argued that the United States has no option but to provide substantial financial backing to Uganda’s military operations in Somalia. He demanded about Ksh129 billion (USD 1 billion) annually to sustain the mission.

“Unless there are serious discussions about financing our mission in Somalia, we shall withdraw by the end of this year,” Muhoozi said, adding that he still expects Washington to meet Uganda’s funding requirements.

At the same time, Muhoozi touched on his strained relations with some Western leaders, noting that he could never have disagreements with Britain’s King Charles III, whom he referred to as his king as well.

Rising Tensions Between Uganda and the United States

Muhoozi’s remarks come at a time when relations between Kampala and Washington are increasingly strained. Tensions have grown following Uganda’s recent general elections, which were disputed by the opposition and criticised by several Western governments.

U.S. Senator Jim Risch, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been among the most vocal critics of Uganda’s leadership. He dismissed Muhoozi’s earlier apology to the United States as inadequate and accused him of crossing a red line.

In a statement issued on January 30, Risch called for tougher measures against Uganda, urging the U.S. government to reconsider its security partnership with Kampala. He also suggested reviewing military cooperation with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and exploring possible sanctions.

The senator warned that the United States would not tolerate what he described as reckless behaviour that could threaten American interests, personnel, and civilians in the region.

Apology and Diplomatic Efforts

Earlier, Muhoozi had publicly apologised to the United States after facing calls for sanctions over alleged human rights abuses linked to Uganda’s disputed elections. He admitted that some of his earlier remarks were based on misinformation and had attracted international criticism.

He later said he had spoken with the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda and insisted that diplomatic relations between the two countries remained stable, with military cooperation continuing. Uganda’s embassy in Washington also took steps to calm the diplomatic tensions.

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