'Give $1 billion, most beautiful woman as wife': Uganda Army head's shocking demands from Turkey

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has sparked controversy after making a series of unusual and provocative statements directed at Turkey on social media.

Kainerugaba, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni, demanded that Turkey pay Uganda $1 billion as compensation for its role in regional security, particularly in Somalia. He argued that while Turkey has benefited economically from infrastructure and business projects in Mogadishu,

Uganda has borne the burden of maintaining security through its long-standing military deployment in the country.

Ugandan troops have been part of African Union missions in Somalia for nearly two decades, primarily combating the militant group Al-Shabaab, which is linked to Al-Qaeda.

In his posts, Kainerugaba warned that failure to meet his demands could lead to Uganda cutting diplomatic ties with Turkey and closing its embassy in Kampala within 30 days. He also advised Ugandan citizens against travelling to Turkey, citing safety concerns.

Adding to the controversy, he made a personal remark asking Turkey to offer him “the most beautiful woman in the country” as a wife.

Kainerugaba further expressed support for Israel, stating he would be willing to deploy 100,000 Ugandan troops to protect what he described as the “Holy Land.”

This is not the first time he has drawn attention for unconventional remarks. In 2022, he made headlines after offering 100 Ankole cows in exchange for marrying Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.