The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has said he has halted his public confrontation with the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, following instructions from his mother, Janet Kataaha Museveni.
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, Gen Kainerugaba said he would no longer pursue the matter out of respect for her.
“My mother, Mama Janet, ordered me to cease my war against Baryomunsi. Out of respect for her, I shall not pursue this matter anymore,” Gen Kainerugaba wrote.
The statement followed a series of heated exchanges earlier in the week in which the CDF publicly criticised and threatened Dr Baryomunsi. On Thursday, Gen Kainerugaba branded the minister a “traitor” and declared that he would never serve in Cabinet again unless he first reconciled with him.
“Baryomunsi, the traitor, will never be a Minister again. It doesn’t matter. You will not be Minister this time. First come and make peace with me,” Gen Kainerugaba posted.
The CDF further warned that Dr Baryomunsi risked arrest if he mentioned his name again, adding remarks that sparked widespread debate on social media.
In response, Dr Baryomunsi defended his political record, saying his rise was based on merit rather than personal favours and downplaying the significance of holding ministerial office.
“I rose from obscurity to where I am because of my abilities, not favours from anybody. I am self-made. Being a Minister is not necessarily the best thing in life. My horizon is far beyond that. Let’s serve Uganda,” he said.
He also rejected personal attacks directed at him, attributing his discipline and resilience to his upbringing.
“My father trained me to believe in myself. I am sober 24/7 and focused. I don’t suffer from Peter Pan Syndrome. Those attacking me on Twitter/X don’t know the material we, the original Bakiga, are made of,” Baryomunsi added.
The clash was triggered by remarks made by Dr Baryomunsi during a media appearance in which he stated that the CDF does not speak on behalf of the government.
“For the record, the CDF does not speak for government. His tweets—often short and sometimes deleted—are not official positions but casual comments. I’ve raised this with the appointing authority, including the President. They do make my work harder,” he said.
His comments drew backlash from supporters of Gen Kainerugaba online, including Daudi Kabanda, the Secretary General of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), an organisation led by the CDF. Kabanda accused the minister of political opportunism and alleged misconduct during past elections—claims Dr Baryomunsi strongly dismissed.
Responding to Kabanda, the minister wrote:
“Ordinarily, I would not dignify Kabanda’s forest of empty talk with a response. I have no energy to engage in an argument with somebody who is intellectually jaundiced. From what you have written, I advise you to upgrade your education and reason like those who went to school.”
Gen Kainerugaba’s latest statement signals a pause in the public dispute, bringing a temporary calm to a confrontation that had dominated political discourse on social media over the past week.
