Muhoozi wanted more Twitter followers, Ugandan spokesperson now says
By Wangu KanuriUgandan government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo has said President Yoweri Museveni’s son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba was just clout chasing and seeking to increase his Twitter followers base to 1 million through his controversial tweets about Kenya.
Mr Opondo made the statement during an interview with NBS TV.
“If you are reasonable enough you can’t say that the tweets of Gen Muhoozi was in good taste. I think it was maybe poor judgement to take matters casual or as a banter from what he said because part of that was, he wanted to drive social media traction that is his followers to 1 million,” Mr Opondo said.
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Muhoozi has attracted criticism in recent days for his online attacks on Kenya. On Monday, the now General of the Ugandan army had a Twitter meltdown after he said he would only need a fortnight to topple President William Ruto’s government.
He started by chiding retired President Uhuru Kenyatta for failing to contest for a third term in office, claiming that his ‘big brother’ would have easily won the election.
Gen Muhoozi went on to insinuate that Mr Kenyatta should have amended the constitution to allow him to run for another term.
Also read: Gen Muhoozi: President Museveni’s son who loves courting controversy
Haha! I love my Kenyan relatives. Constitution? Rule of law? You must be joking! For us there is only the Revolution and you will soon learn about it!
— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) October 3, 2022
President Museveni, 78, has benefitted twice from the constitution change allowing him to lead Uganda for the last 36 years.
Muhoozi’s tweets caused a friction between Kenyans and Ugandans with Kenyans on Twitter calling him out following his recklessness.
As the debate heated up on social media, behind closed doors top government officials from both countries held meetings to diffuse the situation.
Also read: Museveni asks Kenyans to forgive son in Twitter row
Later on, President Museveni apologised to Kenyans on behalf of his son, while explaining why he promoted Gen Muhoozi in the midst of the incident.
“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 to discourage the negative and encourage the positive,” President Museveni said.