Twitter is Allowing A General To Threaten a Sovereign Nation In The Name of Free Speech

This first series of unprovoked tweet came on 3 October 2022. It was followed up by a series of odd tweets from the account of General Kainerugaba. Muhoozi Kainerugaba is the son of Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni who's retained power over the country for 36 year.

His son was removed as head of the ground forces where he was a lieutenant General. He was moved to a different division and made into a full general, his father (the president) claims this move was always in the works but he decided to make the transition at that current time.

At first Kenyans cracked many jokes thinking it was a random joke. Yet the tweets kept coming and Kenyan news outlets with a reckless history decided to give as much attention as possible to his tweets. The Ugandan government issued a statement after the tweets to deflect from his childish and threatening behavior all while Twitter ignored it.

The behavior had escalated which caused the two countries presidents to have a meeting, Kenya's William Ruto went to Uganda. News from that meeting didn't confirm exactly what was said between the two presidents however the general made no actual or sincere apologies for his behavior.

Now in December of 2022 General Muhoozi is back to tweeting about his Kenyan neighbors. This time saying that a portion of Kenya belongs to Uganda and he would accept an area of Nairobi to be renamed.

The general also lays praises on the M23 rebel group that is currently fighting within the DRC (Congo) while several East African troops are trying to repel them. He has chosen sides with Rwanda and the M23 rebels over the Congolese people.

He often refers to them as his brother and Rwandan President Kagame as his uncle. Many of his unhinged tweets go unchecked on the social media platform, Elon Musk has ignored his every threat. The account has yet to be temporarily locked or suspended.

They also point at how, Gen. Muhoozi said in a tweet that he will “certainly” be president after his father.

“The only way I can thank my beautiful mother is to become president of Uganda. And I certainly will,” Muhoozi Kainerugaba tweeted.

Before that the 48-year old Muhoozi had become embroiled in a diplomatic row with Ethiopia.

The writers point out how, even after the 78-year old Museveni had said that his son could only express himself on Twitter if he stuck to comments on non-political issues, Muhoozi tweeted: “I am an adult and no one will ban me from anything”.

Led by Bhaso Ndzendze, an Associate Professor and HOD in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg, a group of academics penned the analytical article. The writers included Laurika Mashaba, Sisipho Mbalo, Thando Mncwango, Buhle Mnyanda, Ralph Musonza, Nasi-Sipho Vayeka and Noluthando Mncwango.

“It was a general’s ill-considered tweet that has made his country something of a laughing stock, but one which should give pause for reflection,” the jointly wrote, referencing the Oct.03 incident in which Gen. Muhoozi took to Twitter to say: “It wouldn’t take us, my army and me, two weeks to capture Nairobi.”

Source: IndependantCoUganda

It's very frustrating the Twitter is refusing to take notice of action against the threats to neighboring Kenya. Elon Musk who says he bought the social media platform to spread free speech is now causing more harm in the international community. As well as disinformation and hate speech spreading on his platform.

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