Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding that "all forces" in the eastern Congolese city of Bunia surrender their weapons or face military action.
In a series of posts on X on Saturday, Kainerugaba, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni, claimed he had his father’s authorization to act.
Kainerugaba justified his threat by alleging that members of the Bahima ethnic group were being attacked in eastern Congo.
“My people, the Bahima, are being attacked. That’s a very dangerous situation for those attacking my people. No one on this earth can kill my people and think he will not suffer for it!” he wrote.
In a separate post, which he later deleted, the general declared that “Bunia will soon be in UPDF hands,” referring to the Uganda People’s Defense Force.
These statements are not entirely surprising, given the general's history of making provocative remarks. In 2022, he referred to the M23 rebel group as “brothers of ours” fighting for the rights of Tutsis in Congo, a statement that drew criticism and heightened tensions between Uganda and the DRC. Nonetheless, his threats raise concerns about escalating tensions in an already volatile region.
As of now, neither the Ugandan government nor the DRC’s leadership has formally responded to Kainerugaba’s threats.