Uganda’s First Son and Presidential Advisor on Special Operations, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has once again stirred international and regional attention with a bold declaration of support for Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
In a post shared Wednesday evening on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Gen Muhoozi made a direct appeal to former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, urging him not to oppose President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation. He warned that doing so would alienate a large portion of the global population.
“My hero President Trump, please do not turn against President Putin and Russia. You will immediately have problems with 80% of mankind. We support the position of Russia. They are fighting a just war,” Gen Muhoozi wrote.
The controversial post comes amid growing geopolitical tensions and renewed debates on the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its third year. Gen Muhoozi’s remarks are likely to raise eyebrows both in Western capitals and among Uganda’s diplomatic partners, especially given the country’s strategic balancing between East and West.
While the Ugandan government has maintained a non-aligned and neutral stance publicly, Gen Muhoozi’s statement suggests deeper sympathies within the Ugandan elite toward Russia’s global positioning.
Though not an official government declaration, Gen Muhoozi’s influence within the corridors of power — as a top military figure, son of President Yoweri Museveni, and an increasingly vocal political personality — gives significant weight to his pronouncements.
His statement also reinforces sentiments he has previously expressed, where he has praised Russia’s global role and criticized perceived Western imperialism. In 2022 and 2023, he tweeted in support of Putin, referring to him as a “great leader” and lamenting NATO’s expansionism.
Gen Muhoozi’s words could complicate Uganda’s relations with Western countries, particularly the United States and European Union, which have sanctioned Russia over its ‘invasion’ of Ukraine.
Uganda receives substantial aid and military cooperation from the U.S., and its stance in multilateral forums is often carefully calibrated.
“This post blurs the line between personal opinion and state policy,” said Dr. Margaret Nabunya, a political analyst at Makerere University. “If the message is not walked back or clarified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it may be interpreted as an unofficial foreign policy shift.”
As of Thursday morning, Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not issued a statement in response to the general’s comments.
Uganda is not alone in expressing warm relations with Moscow. Several African nations have strengthened ties with Russia in recent years, benefiting from military partnerships, grain diplomacy, and anti-colonial rhetoric.
President Museveni himself has in the past defended Russia’s security concerns and criticized Western double standards, although he has largely avoided declaring explicit support for the war.
Muhoozi’s latest remarks go further — characterizing the war as “just” and aligning Uganda with Russia’s narrative of self-defense and opposition to NATO encroachment.
The statement is likely to spark debate at home and abroad. Domestically, it fuels speculation over Muhoozi’s political ambitions and whether he is signaling a future foreign policy direction under his leadership, should he succeed his father.
Internationally, attention will be on how the U.S. Embassy in Kampala and European missions respond, especially amid broader concerns over democratic governance, regional security, and foreign influence in Africa.