Ugandans Threaten to Attack Kenyan High Commission in Kampala After Standard Newspaper Attacked Muhoozi

Tensions have escalated after a provocative headline in Kenya’s The Standard newspaper. In response, the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) has threatened to organise a demonstration outside the Kenyan High Commission in Kampala.

The planned protest, scheduled for next Wednesday, comes in response to an article titled “Four-star brat,” which sharply criticized General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and a towering figure in the country’s military and political spheres.

The controversial headline.

The PLU, a vocal group of supporters rallying behind Gen. Kainerugaba, has condemned the Kenyan publication as an affront to their leader, who serves as the organization’s chairman.

PLU Secretary-General Daudi Kabanda minced no words in his reaction, accusing The Standard of crossing a line with its “insulting” portrayal.

“PLU is going to hold an energetic demonstration at the Kenyan High Commission next week on Wednesday,” Kabanda declared in a statement.

“They burnt our High Commission last year and we did not respond. Now, one of their newspapers has insulted our PLU Chairman. We will respond with full force!”

The Standard article in question took aim at Gen. Kainerugaba’s growing influence in Uganda, spotlighting his controversial social media activity, which it argued has previously stoked regional tensions.

Describing his behavior as “diplomatic missteps,” the piece painted a critical picture of the general, who commands significant loyalty among his supporters, including the PLU.

This is not the first time Kainerugaba has faced scrutiny; just weeks ago, the group staged a protest in Kampala against Ugandan lawmakers who criticized him for dodging a parliamentary summons over similar social media remarks.

On X, Gen. Kainerugaba himself has not directly addressed the  article as of this writing, but his past posts offer insight into his defiance.

However he has posted cryptic statements carefully balanced not to escalate the situation.

He has also called for the arrest of The Standard journalists behind the story.

Following The Standard piece, Ugandan voices on X amplified the PLU’s outrage. Balaam Ateenyi, a prominent PLU member, posted, “The Standard newspaper’s publication of fake news has shown blatant disrespect towards our supreme leader, @mkainerugaba. We demand accountability… unless they’re willing to rectify their actions.” Others called for drastic measures, including a ban on the newspaper in Uganda.

The reaction has not been unanimous, however. Some Ugandans on X expressed skepticism about escalating the situation. One user, @UgCitizen256, wrote, “This is just a newspaper article. Why are we threatening embassies over words? Let’s focus on real issues.” Meanwhile, in Kenya, defenders of press freedom have pushed back. A Nairobi-based journalist, @KenyaVoiceKE, posted, “The Standard has every right to critique public figures. This is journalism, not an attack on Uganda. PLU should respect free speech.”

The brewing conflict revives memories of past friction between the two East African neighbors.

Kabanda’s reference to the burning of Uganda’s High Commission in Nairobi last year—a still-sensitive incident—underscores the potential for this dispute to spiral.

This latest episode follows a pattern of PLU mobilizing in defense of Kainerugaba, whose political ascent has stirred both admiration and controversy. His refusal to answer to Uganda’s Parliament last month sparked a similar outcry, with supporters marching to protest what they called “targeted political maneuvering” against him. Now, with the Kenyan High Commission in their sights, the PLU appears determined to send a message across borders.