Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has ignited fresh controversy with bold remarks about Kenya’s role in the ongoing peacekeeping mission in Haiti. Speaking via his official social media account on Saturday, the general claimed that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) would succeed in pacifying Haiti in just two months far faster than Kenyan police, who have been on the ground for months under a UN-backed multinational security arrangement.
Muhoozi criticized the Kenyan-led mission for failing to achieve tangible results, saying, “It would take us 1 month to capture Port-au-Prince. The Kenyans have failed after nearly 2 years… that’s what we expected. The UN is welcome to offer us favourable terms.”
He further boasted about UPDF’s readiness, stating, “Give UPDF 2 months with the gangsters in Port-au-Prince and see what happens.”
In a particularly pointed message, Muhoozi singled out Haitian gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, alias “Barbecue”, issuing a personal warning. “Barbeque, I’m coming for you! Run! And you won’t survive me,” he wrote, adding his full name in a dramatic flourish to underscore the threat.
The general’s remarks echo previous provocative comments he made about Kenya. In 2022, Muhoozi claimed it would take less than two weeks for Ugandan forces to capture Nairobi. The statement prompted a diplomatic backlash, leading Uganda’s Foreign Ministry to apologize and distance the government from his comments.
Kenya currently leads the multinational peacekeeping mission in Haiti, with over 1,000 officers deployed to stabilise a nation plagued by gang violence, political instability, and humanitarian crises. Despite logistical challenges and resistance from local armed groups, Kenya continues to spearhead the delicate effort under UN coordination.
Muhoozi’s latest remarks have yet again raised diplomatic eyebrows and could further strain relations between Nairobi and Kampala. While Uganda has not been formally invited to join the Haiti mission, the general’s unsolicited offer and combative tone underscore the regional rivalries at play even in international peacekeeping affairs.
As the situation in Haiti remains complex, Muhoozi’s comments may stir more political friction than practical solutions.
