KAMPALA/WASHINGTON — Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has warned that Kampala could retaliate if the United States imposes sanctions on him or Uganda, sharpening an already tense exchange as senior U.S. lawmakers press for a reassessment of relations following concerns over Uganda’s recent elections.

In posts on X by Muhoozi said any sanctions by “spoilers in the USA” would be met with reciprocal measures, adding that Uganda seeks peace but retains the ability to defend itself. The remarks were his most direct response yet to public calls in Washington for targeted restrictions as reported by Chimpreports.

The warning came after U.S. Senator Jim Risch, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, described Uganda’s elections as a “hollow exercise” and urged the U.S. administration to review its security relationship with Kampala, including whether sanctions should apply to specific actors. In his statement, Risch explicitly named Muhoozi as a potential target.

Risch argued that while Uganda remains an important regional security partner, governance concerns including allegations of political violence, intimidation of opponents and misuse of state resources should trigger closer scrutiny of U.S. engagement. He also cited broader regional implications, warning that Uganda and Tanzania were moving along “similar paths,” as other countries in the region prepare for elections.

Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Adonia Ayebare, struck a more measured tone, saying relations between Kampala and Washington remain strong and mutually beneficial, and emphasising long-standing cooperation on regional security and commercial interests.

While no fresh sanctions have been announced, the exchange points to a potential policy review track in Washington one that could affect military cooperation if political rhetoric hardens into formal measures.

The U.S. has previously used targeted tools, including Global Magnitsky-linked authorities, against Ugandan officials. In December 2021, the U.S. Treasury designated then-military intelligence chief Abel Kandiho over alleged serious human rights abuse. A parallel State Department action also cited torture allegations in its public designations.

For now, the most immediate “review” signal is political: pressure from Capitol Hill to reassess the terms and safeguards of U.S.-Uganda security engagement, against a backdrop of governance and election credibility concerns and an increasingly public Ugandan pushback framed as sovereignty and reciprocity.