Uganda’s army chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on Saturday issued a bizarre ultimatum to Turkey: pay Uganda a $1 billion security dividend and hand over the “most beautiful woman” in the country, or face a break in diplomatic relations within 30 days.
Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni, made the demand in a now-deleted post on X and said Uganda had spent nearly two decades fighting Al-Shabab militants while Turkey profited from infrastructure and port deals in Somalia. “On top of the $1 billion from Turkey, I want the most beautiful woman in that country for a wife,” he wrote. “Let them pay us and surrender the wives! They'll be at peace.”
He added in another post, “I don't want conflict with Turkey. They have no chance of surviving us,” and warned, “The real problem is Turkey! We have waited for them to rehabilitate themselves but wapi! We are going to end ALL diplomatic relations with Turkey in the next 30 days if they do not address our issues.” He also wrote, “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.”
The comments follow a familiar pattern for Kainerugaba, who has repeatedly used social media to taunt foreign governments and officials. In 2022, he suggested Uganda could invade Kenya and capture Nairobi in two weeks, prompting a public apology from his father’s government and a temporary removal from command. He has also made a marriage proposal to Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in exchange for livestock.
Turkey has built deep ties with Somalia through infrastructure projects, military training and port and airport operations, especially in Mogadishu, making Kainerugaba’s remarks more than a personal outburst in regional diplomatic terms. He said he expected to be received in Istanbul and meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, writing: “And in one year I will be welcomed to Istanbul as a hero! I will even greet my uncle President Erdogan.”
The real test now is whether Kampala reins him in again or lets the threat stand as foreign policy by another name. For a military chief who has already forced his own government into damage control once before, the next 30 days could say as much about Uganda’s discipline as they do about his appetite for confrontation.
