KAMPALA, Uganda — A social media post claiming that Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and first son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, declared he had toppled President Yoweri Museveni’s government and assumed the presidency is entirely fabricated, The Pearl Times Fact Check Desk reports.
The claim is being circulated through what appears to be a screenshot of an X (formerly Twitter) post attributed to Gen. Muhoozi.
In the image, the military commander is purported to have written: “I have overthrown my father and I am now the President of Uganda. I am tired of pretending.”
The screenshot has rapidly spread across multiple social media platforms, with some users presenting it as evidence of a military takeover in Uganda.
What we found
A verification of Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s verified X account found no record of the alleged post. The statement does not appear among his published posts, nor is there any indication that it was deleted after publication as is the case in some posts.
Beyond the absence of the post itself, the claim collapses under broader scrutiny.
Any declaration by Uganda’s serving Chief of Defence Forces that he had seized power from the sitting President would rank among the country’s most consequential political developments in decades.
Such an announcement would almost certainly dominate headlines across Uganda, East Africa and the international press within minutes.
Yet no reputable news organisation has reported such an event, and there has been no confirmation from the Ugandan government, the military or any independent authority that a coup has taken place.
Understanding the Misinformation
Gen. Muhoozi has built a reputation for making bold and sometimes controversial statements on social media, often touching on domestic politics, diplomacy and military affairs.
Those posts have frequently attracted widespread attention and debate.
However, that history has also made him a frequent target of digital misinformation, with fabricated screenshots periodically appearing online and falsely attributed to his verified account.
Experts on online misinformation caution that convincing-looking screenshots can be created within minutes, thanks to artificial intelligence, and should never be accepted as authentic without checking the original account or corroborating reports from credible news organisations.
The viral screenshot alleging that Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced he had overthrown President Yoweri Museveni and declared himself Uganda’s President is false.
There is no evidence that the statement was ever published on his verified X account, and no credible reporting supports the claim that such an announcement was made or that a coup occurred.
The image is fabricated and should not be shared as genuine because it is not.
Relatedly, Muhoozi has recently hinted on his next job when he leaves his CDF office, even as he previously hinted on Salim Saleh succeeding Museveni, as reported Here and There.
Recently, a popular prophet warned of an assassination plot in the bigger plan to make Muhoozi succeed Museveni, and also hinted on a referendum to change the constitution and easily help Muhoozi become president. (See Details Here and There).
