African military chief issues ultimatum to US envoy

Washington’s ambassador to Uganda, William Popp, engages in “undiplomatic behavior,” General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has said

US Ambassador William Popp should apologize to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni or leave the East African nation, according to the Chief of Defense Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Since Popp became Washington’s envoy in September 2023, an increasing number of Ugandan officials have been placed under US sanctions. Earlier this week, four of the country’s high-ranking police officers were blacklisted by the State Department on accusations of violations of human rights, including torture. According to local media, the US embassy in the capital, Kampala, has been actively working with NGOs and opposition groups.

In a series of posts on X on Friday, Kainerugaba blamed Popp for “disrespecting” his father, President Museveni, and “undermining” the country’s constitution.

"If this current US Ambassador does not apologize to Mzee (President Museveni) personally by Monday morning (9.00am) for his undiplomatic behavior in our country we will demand he leaves Uganda,” he wrote.

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The military chief stressed that the Ugandan authorities “love and admire” the US and have “no problem” with the country. “But lately we have a lot of evidence that they have been working against the NRM government,” he added.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM), which was founded by President Museveni, has been the ruling party in Uganda since 1986.

Kainerugaba said that it was not a personal issue with Popp, but “a national issue.” He emphasized that “no foreign country will ever dominate Uganda again.” The African nation was a British colony between 1894 and 1962.

The general did not specify the exact actions by the US ambassador that made him issue the ultimatum. Popp has not yet reacted.

Kainerugaba, 50, had previously announced plans to run in the presidential election in 2026, but last month he endorsed his 80-year-old father to seek a seventh term in office.

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In August, the military chief declared himself a “Putinist” and promised to “send [Ugandan] soldiers to defend Moscow if ever it was threatened by imperialists.”