Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Joash Maangi, has officially apologized to General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces, following the publication of a controversial article in Kenya’s *The Standard* newspaper.
During a meeting at the Special Forces Command (SFC) headquarters in Entebbe, Ambassador Maangi assured General Kainerugaba that the Kenyan government had no role in the publication of the article. He was accompanied by Colonel Patrick Kaduda, Kenya’s Defence Attaché to Uganda, and other senior officials from the Kenyan High Commission.
Also present were Brigadier General Paul Namawa, the SFC Chief of Staff, and Colonel Christopher Muwumba, General Kainerugaba’s Military Assistant.
The article, which initially portrayed Muhoozi negatively, sparked outrage among his supporters, prompting calls for protests outside the Kenyan High Commission in Kampala. However, after *The Standard* issued an apology on X (formerly Twitter) and published a revised, more positive profile of the general, the protests were called off. The updated article highlighted Muhoozi’s military expertise, stating that he “means business” and is highly regarded within the military.
In his remarks, Muhoozi emphasized that no dispute should overshadow the strong historical relationship between Uganda and Kenya. He stressed the importance of mutual respect and dignity for the leaders of both nations, reaffirming the need to maintain the strong ties between the two countries.
The meeting ended with a diplomatic exchange of gifts. Maangi presented traditional Kenyan attire and a lion sculpture, a gift from Kenya’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Charles Kahiriri. In return, Muhoozi gifted the delegation a copy of President Museveni’s autobiography, a book on Uganda’s tourist attractions, and a selection of Ugandan coffee.
This gesture marked an effort to ease tensions following the newspaper’s controversial portrayal of Muhoozi, which initially referred to him as a “Four-Star Brat.” The apology and revised article appear to have helped defuse the situation, preventing further fallout between the two nations.
