Entebbe – The Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and US Ambassador William Popp met on Wednesday at the Special Forces Command (SFC) headquarters in Entebbe, signalling a move towards reconciliation after recent tensions between the two.
The meeting comes months after a storm of controversy ignited by Gen Kainerugaba's remarks on social media in which he demanded an apology from Amb Popp and even threatened to deport him.
Despite these earlier discordant remarks, Wednesday’s meeting focused on the positive aspects of the Uganda-US partnership.
Gen Muhoozi highlighted the longstanding and multifaceted relationship between the two countries, noting their shared history of cooperation in security, economic development, and cultural exchange.
“The US has been a trusted partner in Uganda’s development journey,” he said, emphasizing that the two nations’ bond, which has endured since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1962, remains rooted in mutual respect and collaboration.
Amb Popp, joined by US Military Attaché Lt Col Christian Noumba, also underscored his commitment to strengthening this relationship.
He commended Uganda’s leadership role in regional peacekeeping operations, particularly in Somalia, where the UPDF continues to combat terrorism.
Besides the earlier rift with Amb Popp, Gen Muhoozi also had it with the US defence attache, from whom he demanded a "proper salute" in several posts on X.
Both officials expressed their desire to move beyond past tensions and focus on strengthening the diplomatic, security, and economic ties between Uganda and the United States.
This meeting highlights the resilience of diplomatic relations, even in the face of challenges.
Last week, Muhoozi's father President Museveni had back-to-back meetings with Amb Popp and UK High Commissioner Lisa Chesney at State House in Entebbe.
The Presidency did not communicate the detail of the two meetings, leaving speculation that it could have been concerning the crisis in DR Congo and the continued detention of opposition stalwart Kizza Besigye.
Dr Besigye, who has gone on a hunger strike, is being held illegally on the orders of the military that Gen Muhoozi leads. He has severally vowed that his father's former personal doctor would only come out of Luzira Prison in a "coffin or on his knees".
It remains unclear if Amb Popp took the issue of Dr Besigye into the meeting with Muhoozi, who is understood to be holding the final say in the matter.