U.S. Senator Jim Risch, the powerful chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has dismissed a public apology issued by Ugandan General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, describing it as hollow and inadequate, and warning that Uganda could face tougher U.S. sanctions if current trends continue.
The rejection marks a significant escalation in Washington’s response to Uganda’s political and human rights trajectory. Senator Risch made it clear that symbolic apologies cannot substitute for accountability, particularly when senior military figures are repeatedly linked to intimidation, inflammatory rhetoric, and actions that undermine democratic institutions.
Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of long-serving President Yoweri Museveni and a central figure in Uganda’s military establishment, issued the apology following international backlash over a series of controversial statements and incidents that alarmed foreign governments and human rights organizations. While Ugandan authorities attempted to portray the apology as a gesture of de-escalation, U.S. lawmakers appear unconvinced.
According to Senator Risch, the issue extends far beyond one individual or a single apology. He has pointed to what he describes as a pattern of behavior by Uganda’s security leadership, marked by repression of political opposition, restrictions on free expression, and the use of state power to silence dissent.
“This is not about words,” Risch has argued in past statements on Uganda. “It is about actions and consequences.” His latest stance suggests that patience within the U.S. Congress is wearing thin.
Human rights groups have documented repeated arrests of opposition figures, crackdowns on protests, and allegations of abuse by security forces. These reports have fueled calls in Washington for targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, against individuals accused of orchestrating or enabling abuses.
Senator Risch has now openly supported such measures, signaling a shift from diplomatic caution to punitive action. If enacted, sanctions could also affect military cooperation and security assistance, areas where Uganda has long relied on U.S. support, particularly in regional counterterrorism efforts.
For decades, Uganda has been viewed as a strategic U.S. partner in East Africa. However, analysts say the relationship is increasingly strained as concerns grow over democratic backsliding and the apparent grooming of Muhoozi Kainarugaba for future national leadership, a development critics see as entrenching dynastic rule.
The senator’s response sends a clear message to Kampala: international tolerance for apologies without reform is fading. Whether Uganda’s leadership will respond with concrete changes, or brace for heightened diplomatic and economic pressure, remains an open question.
What is increasingly evident, however, is that Uganda’s standing with key international partners is at risk, and that Washington may be preparing to translate warnings into action.
