The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dissociated itself and the Republic of Uganda from a statement by the commander of Land Forces Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On Tuesday evening, Gen Muhoozi tweeted that the majority of mankind that are non-white support Russia’s stand in Ukraine”, and the BBC reported the statement to the world.
But the State Minister of Foreign Affairs Oryem Okello has clarified in an interview with the Uganda Radio Network Gen Mohoozi’s statement does not represent the position of the ministry nor that of the Republic of Uganda on the Russia-Ukraine war.
Minister Oryem pointed out that Muhoozi doesn’t speak for the relevant ministry of foreign affairs, nor the Foundation of the Ministry, that is President Yoweri Museveni. Museveni happens to be Gen Muhoozi’s father.
Although Muhoozi holds the second-highest position in the country’s military and is a son of the Commander in Chief, those in the know say the Minister Okello particularly does not defer to him because of a personal historical tie, both having been kids in exile in Tanzania in the seventies. Oryem who is about 15 years older, used to babysit Mohoozi who was a toddler.
Oryem’s father, the late Gen Tito Okello, led Uganda from July 1985 to January 1986. Muhoozi is, therefore, the immediate successor to Oryem as “First Son”, an unofficial title Ugandans loosely use in reference to a president’s eldest son.
