CDF Muhoozi apologizes to Gen Saleh, backs down on attacking EU Diplomats

Kampala, Uganda: Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and First Son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has publicly apologized to his uncle Gen Caleb Akandwanaho alias Salim Saleh and pledged to cease verbal attacks on European diplomats following stern intervention by the veteran general during a closed-door meeting with EU envoys in Gulu.

In a post on his X platform on Monday evening, Gen Muhoozi, who is also the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations said: “Out of respect for my great uncle, Afande Saleh, I shall not mention Germany or bazungu again. I want to apologize to Afande Saleh if I disobeyed him in any way. Nisamehe Afande.”

The CDF’s public apology comes after a week of diplomatic uproar triggered by his social media posts, where he accused German Ambassador Matthias Schauer and other European envoys of meddling in Uganda’s domestic politics, alleging support for opposition elements.

The posts provoked formal protests from several diplomatic missions and forced the European Union delegation to seek clarification from the government.

Sources confirmed that Gen Salim Saleh, who hosted the EU diplomats in Gulu last week, reassured them of Uganda’s commitment to diplomatic respect and promised to “tame” his nephew’s conduct, a position later echoed through backchannels within the UPDF hierarchy.

Gen Muhoozi’s attacks had further escalated tensions within regional diplomacy, prompting formal complaints from both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.

Last week, the UPDF defiantly announced on X that Uganda had “cut all military ties” with Germany, a statement that triggered public spat and further soared tensions diplomatic ties between the East African Nation and Berlin.

However, his back down on Monday, seen as a direct result of Saleh’s intervention, now appears aimed at calming diplomatic waters ahead of a critical period for Uganda’s international relations and internal political stability.