Critics lashed out at the general for his social media posts that touched on topics considered taboo for a serving soldier.
He recently sparked outrage with a tweet in which he threatened to behead the country’s leading opposition figure, Bobby Wine.
Announcing his return on the microblogging platform on Thursday, General Kainerugaba ordered Ugandan security forces to arrest on the spot any opposition figure wearing anything resembling the country’s military uniform.
“And those who do not respect this order … have their own problems,” added the general who heads Uganda’s ground forces.
He also threatened to deport an unnamed US diplomat after he reportedly failed to salute the general.
“My only problem is the US defense attaché. If I find him anywhere…and he doesn’t stand up and salute me…I will arrest him on the spot!!
The general also wondered what the BBC “said about me”, referring to the corporation announcing his departure from X last week.
This is the second time General Kainerugaba has left and then returned to the social media platform in three years.
He left for the first time in 2022, but returned days later and continued the social media outburst that had previously caused diplomatic tensions.
In October of that year, he made headlines after posting a series of tweets threatening to invade neighboring Kenya, a comment that prompted his father to step in and apologize.
General Kainerugaba’s recent post threatening to “cut off” the head of Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulani, has drawn widespread condemnation in the country.
Although the general apologized for the post, which he called a joke, Bobby Wine said he cannot take such threats lightly.
The Ugandan government downplayed the post, with a spokesperson calling General Kainerugaba’s social media comments “casual” remarks that should not be interpreted as reflecting official policy.
General Kainerugaba is widely believed to be the heir apparent to his father, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, although Museveni has denied he is grooming him for the presidency.
His X account now has over 1,000 followers. The old account has more than a million subscribers.
In his return message, he urged his fans to follow him.
“I want all my people back. Bring them all back!’
