Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has issued a sharp warning to Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, urging him to rein in his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, whose public remarks about Kenya have caused diplomatic unease.
Speaking on X, Kuria said that while he admires Museveni’s leadership and economic vision, failure to manage Muhoozi’s statements could tarnish the Ugandan president’s long-standing reputation.
“I am an ardent admirer of President Yoweri Museveni. We have near identical views on how African economies can only develop by focusing on production and export-led growth,” Kuria wrote on Saturday.
“In 2023, I visited Ssebo as a Special Envoy on regional integration, and we ended up having a lively four-hour discourse that should have been of interest to PhD students of Political Economy. However, if he does not manage the situation involving his son Muhoozi, his legacy will go up in smoke.”
Kuria described the timing of the statements as particularly sensitive, noting the escalating tensions in the Horn of Africa.
“At a time when the region is staring at war between Ethiopia and Eritrea over access to the sea, it is not the time to issue remarks about Kenya over the same,” he said.
“We enjoy excellent relations as neighbours, brothers and sisters. But do not take some jokes too far.”
The comments follow Museveni’s recent discussions about Uganda’s long-term interest in securing access to the Indian Ocean through regional integration.
While Museveni framed his remarks in an economic context, his son Muhoozi’s social media posts have dominated headlines, raising concerns about Uganda’s diplomatic posture.
Muhoozi, who serves as Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, has made a series of provocative statements about Kenya, including assertions about military strength and access to the coast.
He said Kenya should “quickly give us access to the Indian Ocean,” warning that ignoring the claim could lead to “very big problems in the future.” He added that Uganda has been “locked out for too long,” framing the issue as one of national sovereignty and entitlement.
Kuria stressed that, while relations between Kenya and Uganda remain strong, Muhoozi’s approach risks unnecessary escalation during a period of fragile regional stability.
Museveni, who has led Uganda since 1986, has previously downplayed his son’s comments as casual or humorous. Kuria’s statement, however, represents one of the most forceful warnings from a senior Kenyan official regarding the repeated remarks.
Despite tensions, the two countries continue to cooperate closely on trade, security, and regional infrastructure. Uganda remains one of Kenya’s major trading partners, and both states work together within the East African Community.
With succession discussions in Uganda and Muhoozi’s rising prominence, his statements are increasingly scrutinised beyond Uganda’s borders.
