Uganda’s army chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, sparked controversy after posting on social media that he wanted $1 billion from Turkey and “the most beautiful woman” in the country as a wife, while warning that ties with Ankara could be cut if his demands were not met. Reports said he later deleted some of the posts after backlash.
Kainerugaba appeared to justify the demand by accusing Turkey of profiting from business and infrastructure interests in Somalia while Ugandan troops had spent years providing security and fighting al-Shabab there. One report said he described the money as a security dividend for Uganda’s military role.
He also reportedly threatened to end diplomatic relations with Turkey within 30 days and said Uganda would block Turkish Airlines, escalating the controversy beyond a personal outburst into a wider diplomatic issue. There was no immediate formal response reported from Turkish officials.
The remarks drew criticism because of both their sexist tone and their potential impact on Uganda’s foreign relations, especially given Kainerugaba’s record of provocative statements on international issues.
