Ololade Adeyanju/
Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has drawn sharp criticism after demanding $1 billion from Turkey over its role in Somalia, while also insisting that the country should offer him “the most beautiful Turkish woman” as a wife.
Kainerugaba made the remarks in a series of posts on X, where he frequently shares views on military and geopolitical issues.
In the posts, he argued that Turkey should compensate Uganda for its long-standing contribution to peacekeeping and counter-insurgency operations in Somalia.
Ugandan troops have for years formed a significant part of the African Union mission in Somalia, now known as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, which has been engaged in combating the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab.
However, the general’s demand for a Turkish woman overshadowed the financial request.
He explicitly stated that, alongside monetary compensation, Turkey should present him with “the most beautiful Turkish woman” to marry, a comment that has been widely criticised as inappropriate and diplomatically insensitive.
There has been no official response from the Government of Turkey regarding the remarks.
Similarly, Ugandan authorities have not issued any formal statement clarifying whether Kainerugaba’s comments reflect government policy or his personal views.
The latest episode adds to a pattern of controversial statements by the Ugandan army chief.
In 2022, he attracted international attention after publicly expressing a desire to marry Giorgia Meloni, a remark that also drew criticism at the time.
Kainerugaba is the son of President Yoweri Museveni, and his public pronouncements have occasionally stirred diplomatic unease, particularly when they concern foreign governments or leaders.
Turkey has been a key partner in Somalia, providing military training, infrastructure support and humanitarian assistance, while Uganda remains one of the largest troop contributors to the African Union mission in the country.
Analysts say comments of this nature risk complicating diplomatic relations and raising concerns about the conduct of senior officials, especially in matters involving international cooperation and security.
As of the time of filing this report, Kainerugaba has neither withdrawn nor clarified his statements.
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