By Our Reporter
President Museveni is scheduled to meet US Ambassador William Popp to iron out diplomatic unease spat onto the table by a top official of the Ugandan government.
Thursday’s meeting at State House, Entebbe, will also be attended by the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Jeje Odongo, among others.
The diplomacy meeting follows last Friday’s strange ultimatum issued by Gen Muhoozi to Amb Popp to “personally apologise” to President Museveni and Ugandans or be kicked out of the country.
Without revealing much, Gen Muhoozi, who is also the First Son, said Mr Popp had disrespected his father and Ugandans by engaging in “undiplomatic conduct” in the country.
The highly sensitive posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, were deleted hours later, but the shroud of tension in the air did not just dissipate with the retraction.
He had given Mr Popp three days until 9am Monday.
The US Mission in Uganda has not made any official comment on the matter except to refute allegations by wheeler-dealers who claimed Monday that Mr Popp had bowed.
“This narrative is completely false,” the embassy said.
“Neither the US Embassy nor Amb Popp have received any formal request to apologise from the Ugandan government on any matter, nor has he apologised.”
Gen Muhoozi had previously stoked the fury of Kenyans when he suggested that the Ugandan army under his command would capture Kenya within two weeks.
The particularly post on then Twitter had caused diplomatic unease from Kenyans, leading to President Museveni’s public statement that he had cautioned his son on social media activity.
Mr Museveni had also at the time ordered Gen Muhoozi off social media. However, after a lull, he returned to his X activities.
It is one thing to poke Kenya in an uncompromising manner and a whole lot of a different ball game to go after the US government even if some analysts believe Mr Popp’s “undiplomatic conduct” could be an issue Mr Museveni would not be happy about himself.
Sources have intimated that the said undiplomatic conduct relates to the US Embassy’s position that Mr Museveni abandons his quest for a seventh term in 2026.
Gen Muhoozi, who had previously declared he would be on the ballot in 2026 “in the name of Jesus”, last month endorsed his 80-year-old father for another term.
He also warned that no civilian will rule Uganda after General Museveni, who captured power in 1986 followng a five-year armed struggle.
Should the information that the US asked Mr Museveni to step down hold, it is likely the President will lecture Mr Popp on the constitutional right of Ugandans to decide who leads the country.
Mr Museveni, in power for 38 years, has always refused to pronounce himself on succession issue, insisting that the “people will decide”.
Credit: Nile Post, source of this story.
