$1bn, a bride or a breakup: Uganda general’s bizarre ultimatum to Turkey

Uganda’s army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba has sparked a diplomatic controversy after demanding $1 billion from Turkey along with what he described as “the most beautiful woman” in the country, while threatening to sever ties if his conditions are not met.In a series of posts on X on Saturday, Kainerugaba said the payment should serve as a “security dividend” for Uganda’s military role in Somalia, where its troops have been involved in African Union missions against Islamist militant group Al-Shabab. “On top of the $1 billion from Turkey, I want the most beautiful woman in that country for a wife!” he wrote, in a now deleted post, which has since gone viral.He warned that failure to comply within 30 days could lead to a breakdown in diplomatic relations between Uganda and Turkey, including the closure of Turkey’s embassy in Kampala and restrictions on Turkish Airlines. “For Turkey it’s a really simple deal… Either they pay us or I close their embassy here. They can reciprocate and shut our embassy in Turkey as well. No problem,” he said, adding, “If Turkey does not address our problems, we will sever our diplomatic relations within 30 days.”Kainerugaba also accused Ankara of benefiting from infrastructure and operational deals in Mogadishu while Uganda bore the security burden in combating militants over nearly two decades. He described bilateral ties as “serious” and advised Ugandans to avoid travel to Turkey “for your own safety.”The general, who is the son of President Yoweri Museveni, also expressed support for Israel in the same set of posts, stating, “I am ready to deploy 100,000 Ugandan soldiers to Israel, under my command, to protect the Holy Land, the land of Jesus Christ our God.”This is not the first time Kainerugaba’s public remarks have drawn attention. In 2022, he offered 100 Ankole cows to Italy in exchange for marrying its prime minister Giorgia Meloni, and warned of capturing Rome if the proposal was rejected. The comments prompted an apology from president Museveni, who criticised his son for interfering in other countries’ affairs.In the same year, Kainerugaba also threatened military action against Kenya, remarks that led to his temporary removal from his position and a formal apology from the Ugandan government.There has been no immediate response from Turkish or Somali authorities to the latest statements. Ugandan officials have also not clarified whether the remarks reflect official policy or Kainerugaba’s personal views.