UPDF Dismisses New York Times Allegations Against Gen. Muhoozi as “Scandalous” and Politically Motivated
Kampala, Uganda – The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has issued a strong rebuttal to a recent article published in The New York Times, describing allegations leveled against the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as “unfounded,” “scandalous,” and part of a broader “imperialistic” campaign by Western media.
In a statement released on Saturday, Colonel Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, responded to an October 8, 2026, article by Megan K. Stack titled ‘The Authoritarian Future is Already Here.’ The UPDF statement characterized the piece as a repetition of “twisted opposition and activist narratives” aimed at disparaging the General.
Response to Specific Allegations
The military statement took particular issue with a section of the Times article quoting exiled Ugandan dissident Kakwenza Rukirabashaija. According to the article, Rukirabashaija alleged that during a detention visit, General Kainerugaba ordered him to bend over and remove his pants to reveal the size of his penis, and later offered him a bribe to remain silent about abuse. The article also detailed claims by Rukirabashaija of severe torture, including fractured ankles and kidney damage.
Colonel Magezi dismissed these accounts as logically inconsistent and “laughable.”
“The inconsistencies in the story are quite laughable,” the statement reads. “In one instance, Kakwenza… is ordered to ‘bend over to make himself shorter’, and in the next, his ankles are shattered and ‘he could not even stand’.”
The UPDF categorically denied that General Kainerugaba has ever met Rukirabashaija, labeling the dissident a “known fiction teller” and the allegations a “figment of his imagination.”
Context of Western Media Criticism
The statement contextualized the New York Times article within what it described as a sustained campaign by Western media conglomerates against the General. The UPDF cited previous critical articles from The Telegraph (September 2024), The Wall Street Journal (September 2025), and The Economist (September 2026).
The statement suggested that these publications are motivated by a preference for a different political future in Uganda, specifically mentioning opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi.
“General Muhoozi Kainerugaba is not their (western media) preferred successor… They would rather have the lackey Robert Kyagulanyi in-charge,” the statement said. “However, the future of Uganda is a choice that will be firmly determined by Ugandans when the time comes.”
Defending the General and Uganda’s Democracy
The UPDF defended General Kainerugaba’s record, describing him as a “decorated military officer with decades of dedicated service.” The statement argued that reducing his career to “social media banter” and unverified reports is an attempt to satisfy prejudiced Western audiences.
Furthermore, the statement asserted that Uganda is a “constitutional and democratic polity.” It argued that serious accusations of human rights abuses require rigorous evidence, not “hearsay” from politically motivated sources. The UPDF reiterated its commitment to operating within the law and supporting civil authorities, while maintaining that Ugandan courts are robust enough to handle any legitimate evidence of wrongdoing.
The statement concluded by warning against external interference in Uganda’s internal affairs.
Attributed to:
Colonel Chris Magezi
Acting Director Defence Public Information (DDPI)
Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs/UPDF
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