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Senator Risch Dismisses Muhoozi Apology, Demands US Action Against Uganda

Washington intensifies pressure on Kampala as diplomatic row escalates following controversial statements by Ugandan military chief

The top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has doubled down on calls for punitive measures against Uganda, dismissing an apology from the country’s military chief as inadequate in the wake of troubling statements about political violence.

Senator Jim Risch, who chairs the influential committee, issued a sharp rebuke on Friday following General Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s attempt to walk back inflammatory social media comments that sparked international outrage.

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The Idaho senator’s position signals growing bipartisan concern in Washington over Uganda’s democratic trajectory and the conduct of senior officials in President Yoweri Museveni’s government.

Diplomatic Crisis Deepens

Risch’s Friday statement rejected Muhoozi’s public expression of regret, characterizing it as superficial damage control that fails to address underlying concerns about Uganda’s commitment to human rights and democratic norms.

The general, who serves as Chief of Defense Forces and is President Museveni’s son, had removed contentious posts from his social media accounts and acknowledged that his comments created diplomatic complications.

However, Risch maintained that deleting posts and issuing apologies represents an insufficient response given the seriousness of the situation and its implications for American interests in East Africa.

Calls for Policy Review

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman urged President Trump’s administration to fundamentally reconsider the bilateral security relationship between Washington and Kampala.

His recommendations include implementing targeted sanctions and conducting a comprehensive review of military-to-military cooperation with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.

Risch emphasized that American personnel operating in the region, broader U.S. strategic interests, and civilian safety concerns necessitate a firm response to what he characterized as destabilizing behavior by senior Ugandan officials.

Uganda’s Damage Control Efforts

General Muhoozi’s apology came after mounting international pressure regarding Uganda’s January general election, which opposition figures and international observers have contested.

In his statement, the UPDF chief admitted receiving flawed information that led to his controversial remarks, which drew widespread condemnation from the international community.

Muhoozi indicated he had engaged in discussions with the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda and expressed confidence that bilateral ties remained fundamentally sound despite recent tensions.

Uganda’s diplomatic apparatus moved quickly to contain the fallout, with Ambassador Adonia Ayebare working through channels in Washington to reassure American officials about Kampala’s commitment to the partnership.

The ambassador subsequently claimed the dispute had been satisfactorily addressed, emphasizing that Uganda values its relationship with the United States as a cornerstone of its foreign policy.

Election Controversy Backdrop

The current diplomatic friction follows a contested January election in which President Museveni was declared winner with 7.9 million votes, extending his decades-long hold on power.

Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, known popularly as Bobi Wine, received 2.7 million votes according to official tallies but rejected the results as fraudulent.

Kyagulanyi has alleged that security forces, including masked soldiers, attacked his residence and physically assaulted family members during the election period.

The most explosive element of the controversy involves social media posts attributed to General Muhoozi in which he appeared to claim responsibility for the deaths of 22 National Unity Platform supporters, referring to them as terrorists.

These posts triggered immediate calls from American lawmakers for accountability measures against Ugandan officials.

Regional Implications

The standoff between Washington and Kampala carries significant implications for U.S. engagement in East Africa, where Uganda has been a key security partner on counterterrorism and regional stability issues.

Uganda contributes troops to peacekeeping operations and has cooperated with American intelligence and military operations targeting extremist groups in the region.

However, concerns about democratic backsliding and human rights violations have increasingly complicated the relationship, placing the Biden and now Trump administrations in the position of balancing strategic interests against values-based foreign policy considerations.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, under Risch’s leadership, plays a crucial role in shaping U.S. policy toward Africa and will likely continue scrutinizing the Uganda relationship in coming weeks.

What’s Next

As pressure mounts from Capitol Hill, the Trump administration faces decisions about whether to impose sanctions, reduce military cooperation, or pursue other policy adjustments in response to developments in Uganda.

The outcome will send signals not only to Kampala but to other African governments about Washington’s tolerance for electoral irregularities and human rights concerns among partner nations.

For Uganda, the challenge lies in managing relations with its most important Western partner while navigating domestic political dynamics that have repeatedly generated international criticism.

The coming weeks will test whether diplomatic engagement can resolve the current impasse or whether the relationship enters a period of more fundamental reassessment.