Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has sparked international controversy with a demand for $100 billion in compensation from the United States, citing Uganda’s military efforts in Somalia as justification.
“$100 billion is the minimum I demand from the USA. And they will pay every penny,” Gen. Kainerugaba stated in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
He emphasized Uganda’s role in stabilizing Somalia, claiming, “The USA owes at least $100 billion for our work in Somalia. We did a lot better than the people in Ukraine. It seems their specialty is running from Russians. We are waiting for payment.”
Uganda was the first East African nation to deploy troops to Somalia under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in 2007, providing critical support to Somalia’s UN-backed government against the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militants.
Over the years, Uganda’s military has sustained significant casualties, particularly in the capital, Mogadishu, while stabilizing areas previously controlled by militants.
Gen. Kainerugaba’s demands come amid escalating tensions between Uganda and the United States, exacerbated by Uganda’s recent removal from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which had granted the country duty-free access to U.S. markets for over 1,800 products. In response to this, Gen.
Kainerugaba insisted, “The USA must apologize to Uganda for removing us from AGOA. We must immediately be reinstated. Then, we will talk about compensation for all the soldiers we lost in Somalia. On their orders.”
The U.S. decision to exclude Uganda from AGOA, effective January 1, 2024, was based on “gross violations” of internationally recognized human rights. Alongside Uganda, Gabon, Niger, and the Central African Republic were also removed from the trade agreement.
The U.S. also recently imposed sanctions on Ugandan officials due to concerns about corruption and reports of extrajudicial killings, drawing criticism from international human rights organizations.
Gen. Kainerugaba, often referred to as Uganda’s “tweeting general,” is no stranger to controversy. He has previously made incendiary statements on social media, including an offer of 100 cows as a bride price for Giorgia Meloni, then on the verge of becoming Italy’s prime minister. In another instance, he threatened to invade Kenya and capture Nairobi, which led to an apology from his father, President Yoweri Museveni, and his temporary removal from the role of commander of Uganda’s land forces. Despite these controversies, he was reinstated and promoted to Chief of Defense Forces in March 2024.
As Uganda heads toward its 2026 presidential elections, where Gen. Kainerugaba has hinted at a possible candidacy, his latest demand for $100 billion from the United States raises questions about the future of Uganda’s foreign relations.
