The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has publicly threatened the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, branding him a traitor and declaring that he will never serve as a minister again unless he first reconciles with him.
In a series of posts shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday night, Gen. Kainerugaba warned that Dr Baryomunsi would not be reappointed to cabinet, insisting that peace must first be made between them.
“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 wrote.
The CDF went further, threatening to have the minister arrested should he mention his name again.
“Baryomunsi, you should be more worried about jail. If he ever utters my name again anywhere, I will arrest him on the spot. It doesn’t matter. We are still sacking you. You probably need the Peter Pan Syndrome,” he added.
Baryomunsi Responds
In response, Dr Baryomunsi defended himself, insisting that his political journey has been shaped by personal merit rather than favours, and downplaying the importance 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,” Baryomunsi stated.
He further rejected claims made against him, saying his upbringing instilled discipline and self-belief.
“My father trained me to believe in myself. He restrained me from taking alcohol. 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. Go slow,” he added.
Origin of the Dispute
The latest clash followed remarks made by Dr Baryomunsi during a media appearance, where 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,” Baryomunsi said.
Social Media Fallout
The comments sparked backlash from some supporters of Gen. Kainerugaba on social media. Among them was Daudi Kabanda, Secretary General of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), an organisation led by the CDF.
In a strongly worded post on X, Kabanda accused Baryomunsi of political opportunism, blackmail, and alleged misconduct during previous elections—claims the minister strongly dismissed.
Responding to Kabanda, Dr Baryomunsi 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.”
The exchange marks the latest public confrontation involving senior government officials, raising questions about civility, discipline, and the use of social media by public office holders.
