KAMPALA, Uganda (UGNEWSLINE) – The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has accused sections of the Western media of conducting a sustained campaign against Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, following allegations published in The New York Times.
In a statement issued on Saturday, October 10, 2026, UPDF Acting Director of Defence Public Information Col. Chris Magezi criticised an article by Megan K. Stack titled, The Authoritarian Future Is Already Here, published on October 8.
Magezi said the article repeated what he described as distorted opposition narratives and made unsubstantiated allegations against Kainerugaba, who also serves as Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations.
He cited previous publications by The Telegraph, the Wall Street Journal and The Economist, arguing that the reports formed part of a broader pattern of negative coverage targeting the army chief.
According to Magezi, the publications were sensational and lacked substantive evidence, adding that some Western media outlets appeared opposed to Kainerugaba’s potential political future.
However, he said Uganda’s leadership and political future would ultimately be determined by Ugandans.
The statement also defended Kainerugaba’s military career, describing him as a decorated officer with decades of service and achievements.
Magezi argued that the general should not be judged on the basis of social media remarks or what he called misleading media reports.
He further maintained that Uganda operates under a constitutional framework and that allegations of human rights violations should be subjected to rigorous verification rather than accepted on the basis of hearsay.
The UPDF spokesperson said the military would continue supporting civilian authorities in maintaining law and order when required, while enforcing discipline and accountability among its personnel.
He also pointed to the country’s courts as avenues through which complaints could be pursued when supporting evidence was available.
The statement concluded with a warning against what Magezi described as external interference in Uganda’s internal affairs.
