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Gen Caleb Akandwanaho, commonly known as Salim Saleh, has promised that the national army will reign in on the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, following concerns raised by European diplomats over his controversial social media activity.
Speaking at his residence in Gulu City on May 21, during a meeting with a delegation of European Union envoys led by Ambassador Jan Sadek, Gen Saleh acknowledged the gravity of the matter but avoided outright condemnation.
“The CDF, that guy is a funny man because he is the only CDF who didn’t come from Uganda Army, [Uganda National Liberation Army], [National Resistance Army], so for him he is a product of UPDF, an army which was created after 1995,” Gen Saleh said.
He added, “So those guys are crazy… they have got their own ways of doing things, because they are educated, they are very well trained, and so I don’t know what he is.”
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Muhoozi’s threats spark diplomatic concern
The meeting came days after Gen Muhoozi posted threats on social media, following a visit by EU officials to the National Unity Platform (NUP) offices in Kavule on May 15. The army chief wrote on X: “This is an Abomination! @EUinUG is really playing with fire. Sawa! We have MARKED all of them especially the one shaking Kabobi's hand.”
Ambassador Sadek told Gen Saleh that the post had created insecurity among diplomats.
“He threatened to take us to his base. I think it has created also some security issues… we don’t know what his followers may take into their own hands.”
The diplomats warned that such statements could damage Uganda’s international image and affect trade and investment.
‘We shall manage him for you’
Gen Saleh, who is President Museveni’s brother and Gen Muhoozi’s uncle, described Muhoozi as a “new type” of soldier.
“He is a Gen-Z I think, that one we have already tried… he even attacked the Human Rights Commission, but it is not a big issue really because for him he is outside us,” he said, while recounting Uganda’s military history through the Kings African Rifles, Uganda Army, UNLA, NRA, and UPDF.
He urged the envoys to hold Gen Muhoozi accountable as an individual, not as a representation of government policy. “You are studying him as a character… Some time back they used to say that you shouldn’t have educated soldiers in the army… now almost the entire top command is full of degrees, masters, PhDs. I think they have some problems in their heads,” he added.
“But that one we shall manage for you; we shall get him on board, to sort it if he has offended you.”